Kick the Habit? Money and Health the Main Reasons for Quitting Cigarettes in Japan
Cigarette prices are rising in Japan, with the introduction of new taxes to fund boosts to defense spending. A recent survey aimed to find out what it would take to get smokers to quit.
In Japan, the trend of smoking is diminishing as health awareness increases and laws against secondhand smoke come into force. Along with this, the financial impact of smoking is growing as tobacco taxes are being gradually increased, starting in 2026, to fund defense spending. A nationwide survey by Overload, an online information provider, found that 22.9% of men and women aged 20 to 69 were current smokers, 24.3% were former smokers, and 52.8% had never smoked. Among those who smoked, 60% preferred conventional cigarettes over heated tobacco products.
When asked the price at which they would quit smoking due to rising taxes and prices, nearly 19% of current smokers said ¥600 per pack, while 14.4% and 14.3% mentioned ¥1,000 and ¥700, respectively. However, 5.3% said they would continue smoking regardless of the price, indicating a high level of nicotine dependence. Former smokers were asked why they had quit, with the most common reasons being the financial strain on their household (27.9%) and worries about their future health (27.2%). A significant portion, 18.4%, claimed they had quit after falling ill.
Written by urgent.news from Nippon.com's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
