Japanese Politics & Culture

If you’re looking for a place to live where you won’t be bothered by much secondhand smoke, Japan may be your place.

Less than a quarter of the Japanese population smokes these days, according to a new survey conducted by Japan Tobacco, Inc. This is the lowest recorded rate of smoking in the country, with both the male and female population smoking less.

The survey, conducted in May, indicated that 24.9% of people living in Japan overall consider themselves smokers.This is nearly a full percentage point down from last year’s rate of 25.7%. Japan Tobacco, Inc. has been recording the rates since 1965 and reports that this is the lowest rate they have ever discovered in their data collection.

Out of the 20,807 people surveyed, men reported a reduced smoking rate of 38.9%, down from 39.5% last year. Women, too, reported less smoking overall, down to 11.9% from last year’s 12.9.%.

The country’s smoking population has been cut nearly in half since 1966 when 49.4% of the population considered themselves to be smokers. Reasons for the decline are speculated to include an increase in the general consciousness of the dangers of smoking, the aging population of the country and stricter smoking laws and regulations being enforced.

In light of the continual growth of health consciousness in Japan, Japan Tobacco, Inc. is taking its business elsewhere. They are hoping to sell products in the Middle East as well as Russia through its recent purchase of U.K. tobacco producer Gallaher Group. They are also expected to make money in other ventures such as frozen food sales.