Japanese Smokers Turn to Heated Tobacco Products

Sep.14.2022
Japanese Smokers Turn to Heated Tobacco Products
Heated tobacco products led to a 34% drop in cigarette sales in Japan, according to a recent study by Frost & Sullivan and tobacco company Philip Morris International. Nico tine replacement therapies were less effective. HTP regulation in Japan is more relaxed than traditional cigarettes.

Kumamaru Hirotani, the vice director of Aoi Hospital in Kawasaki, stated that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as nicotine patches, did not produce the expected results. However, since the introduction of heated tobacco products (HTP) locally, smoking rates have significantly decreased.


In summary, they did not see great success with nicotine replacement therapies. However, since 2014, three heated tobacco products have been officially introduced nationwide in Japan and have penetrated 25% of the total smoking population. As a result, the smoking rate in Japan has successfully decreased over the past three to four years, according to Hiroya in a recent online seminar.


Research Shows That Heating Tobacco Products Decreases Cigarette Sales by 34%


Frost & Sullivan recently collaborated with tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI) to publish a paper titled "Reducing Tobacco Harms and Novel Nicotine and Tobacco Products: Evidence from the Japanese Market". The paper reflects their argument that the introduction of HTP has led to a 34% decrease in cigarette sales.


The commercial viability of Japanese HTP is strongly linked to the significant decline in traditional cigarette sales, surpassing previous rates of decline. Furthermore, even with the introduction of heated tobacco products, all tobacco products (both heated tobacco and traditional cigarettes) continue to experience a decrease in sales. While evidence is mixed, data from the 2019 National Health Survey suggests that 76% of consumers only use heated tobacco products, with only 24% of HTP users maintaining dual use," stated Mark Dougan, Healthcare Consulting Director at Frost & Sullivan.


According to him, the Japanese government distinguishes HTP from traditional cigarettes in terms of tax, health warnings, and indoor usage restrictions, and the regulatory framework for heated tobacco products is usually more lenient than for traditional cigarettes.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry exchange and learning purposes only.


This article does not represent the viewpoint of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS is unable to confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the contents of the article. The compilation of this article is solely intended for industry exchange and research.


Due to limitations in the compiling ability, the translated article may not fully express the original text. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS remains completely aligned with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or international statements and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

GEEK BAR to Return to the European Market: Launches the SPARK Pod System
GEEK BAR to Return to the European Market: Launches the SPARK Pod System
GEEK BAR announced its return to the European market and the release of its pod-based product, SPARK, which will begin rolling out across select European countries starting in March. SPARK features a battery-status display interface and a fast-charging battery. It offers a 1.1Ω prefilled pod (up to approximately 1,000 puffs) and a 0.8Ω refillable pod, along with multiple new flavors tailored for Europe.
Mar.04 by 2FIRSTS.ai
UK Vape Waste Falls 23% From 2024, but Recycling Group Says Fire Risks Remain High
UK Vape Waste Falls 23% From 2024, but Recycling Group Says Fire Risks Remain High
New research from UK recycling campaign group Material Focus says more than 6.3 million vapes and pods are still thrown away each week in the UK. The figure is down 23% from 8.2 million in 2024, which the group said suggests the June 2025 single-use vape ban has helped reduce waste, but it warned that the current level still represents a major waste of valuable materials and a significant fire risk.
Mar.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Bangladesh Industry Association Calls for Regulated Framework Instead of Vape Ban
Bangladesh Industry Association Calls for Regulated Framework Instead of Vape Ban
Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Traders Association said at a press conference on April 9 that use of e-cigarette products under regulated policy frameworks has produced positive public health outcomes globally.
Apr.10 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report | Belarus Rejects Vape Ban, Opts for Tighter Market Controls
Special Report | Belarus Rejects Vape Ban, Opts for Tighter Market Controls
After weeks of debate over a potential blanket prohibition, Belarus has decided against banning electronic cigarettes, choosing instead to tighten control over wholesale, imports and licensing. President Alexander Lukashenko warned that an outright ban could drive the market underground and undermine state revenues, as officials move to curb widespread illicit trade while keeping retail sales largely intact.
Mar.04
Latvian Parliament Gives Initial Support to E-Cigarette Deposit Scheme Amendments
Latvian Parliament Gives Initial Support to E-Cigarette Deposit Scheme Amendments
On April 1, Latvia’s parliament gave conceptual support to amendments to the Waste Management Law that would introduce a deposit system for e-cigarettes in order to reduce pollution and environmental harm caused by these products.
Apr.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French lawmakers Nicolas Thierry and Pierre Cazenave said on April 15 that they will file a cross-party bill to extend plain packaging requirements to vaping products. Under the proposal, unit packs and outer packaging for vaping products, including those without nicotine, would become neutral and standardized in the same way cigarette packs have been since 2017.
Apr.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai