Japan Tobacco - annual survey, smoking incidence continues to fall..

August 11, 2010 - Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) today, August 11th announced the results of its Japan Smoking Rate Survey, a study that has been carried out annually since 1965.

2009 - Japan Tobacco, Inc, annual survey finds 24.9% adults smoke..;

2008 - Japan Tobacco Inc. (JTI) results of its Japan Smoking Rate Survey..

The survey, conducted in May 2010, showed that 23.9 percent of Japanese adults are smokers. The incidence of smoking in Japan dropped by one percentage point between 2009, when 24.9 per cent of the country’s adult population comprised smokers, and this year, by when that figure had fallen to 23.9 per cent.

The incidence of smoking among adult men this year, at 36.6 per cent, was down by 2.3 percentage points, while the incidence of smoking among adult women, at 12.6 per cent, was up by 0.2 of a percentage point.

Using population figures from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ Statistics Bureau, the above figures indicate that Japan has 24.95 million smokers, down from 26.01 million last year. Of this year’s total figure, 18.40 million would be men and 6.55 million women, while last year’s total figure would have comprised 19.57 million men and 6.44 million women.

JT says the decrease in the smoking rate in Japan between 2009 and 2010 was a continuation of the trend of recent previous years. It attributed the decrease to various factors, including the aging of Japan’s society, increasing health consciousness, more stringent smoking regulations, and anticipation of major retail price increases in October that will be necessary mainly because of a planned tobacco excise tax hike. In presenting the results of the survey, JT said it would continue its efforts to help build a society in which smokers and non-smokers could co-exist in harmony.

See first reference for survey press release with tables and access to previous years surveys.

References: JT's Annual Survey Finds 23.9 percent of Japanese Adults Are Smokers, Press Release, Japan Tobacco Inc., 8/11/2010; Japan’s smoking incidence continues to fall, Tobacco Reporter, 8/11/2010.

Japan - some related news briefs:
Japan - McDonald's to introduce smoking ban over next several years..;
Japan - nation's first smoke-free beach opens for season in Kanagawa Prefecture..:
Osaka, Japan - smoking ban in taxis from July 2010..;
Japan - people more aware of dangers of smoking cigarettes - dangers to smokers and those around them..;
Japan - 7 governors consider measures against passive smoking..;
Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture to ban smoking on beaches..;
Japan - Health Ministry set to urge all local governments to go smoke-free..;
Japan - TASPO (tobacco passport) cards to confirm legal age of cigarette purchaser..;
Tokyo, Japan - smokers find haven on smoke-free streets..;
Japan Tobacco - reacts angrily to governments decision to raise cigarette tax..;
Japan - tax increase, a pack of 20 cigarettes will increase by an average of 33%..;
Japan - cigarette taxes increase may be less than expected..;
Japan - prime minister calls for tobacco tax increase..;
Japan Tobacco growing popularity of its British cigarette brands..;
Japan - new government administration considering raising cigarette taxes..;
Japan - plaintiffs have slim chance of winning against big tobacco..;
Japan - convenience store sales fell in June 2009..;
Japan - tobacco control people upset with smoker-only cafes..;
Japan - Tokyo smoking cafes, people with children, those under 20 NOT allowed..;
Japan - Kanagawa - bans smoking in public places starting April 2010..;
Japan shelves tobacco tax hike for 2009..;
Japan - Ruling party plans tobacco tax hike in 2009..;
Japan Tobacco Starts Petition To Fight Tax Increase..;
How to get most smokers to quit?? - Keep On Raising The Price..;
Japanese lawmakers want to triple cigarette prices..;
Japanese tobacco giants focus on point-of-sales cigarette purchases..;
Japan - photos can be used to fool the age-verification cameras on some vending machines..;
Vending Machines - Japanese protecting their children from becoming life-long nicotine addicts...