Japan’s Smokers Cutting Back

In 2005 the percentage of male smokers was 45.8% and for women was 13.8%. The overall rate – 29.2%. That is nearly one in three people in Japan were lighting up.

Thought not great strides – the tobacco industry may eventually feel the pinch – because fewer Japanese are lighting up. The rate of men was down 4.5% to 41.3%. Women wer down 1.4% to 12.4%. The overall rate dropped 2.9% to 26.3%.

The reasons for the drop are twofold.

1. Growing public awareness about health

2. Tighter regulations on smoking in public areas.

Japan Tobacco wants to say "Thank you for Smoking" and to not worry about the downward trend. The different numbers may be the result of different surveying techniques. Details here.

Still, the number is down and needs to go down more – 0% smokers is a reasonable target or at least an idealistic target.

Japan has always been a nation of puffers…I just didn’t realize it was almost half of all men.

Thank goodness the percentage is on the decrease finally.

What do you think?