[Intl-tobacco] Less Japanese smoke

[robert weissman]

Less Japanese smoke
www.chinaview.cn 2004-10-19 18:38:34

     TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The number of adult smokers in
Japanfell 0.9 percentage point from a year earlier to 29.4 as of June, a
record low for the ninth straight year, according to a Japan Tobacco
Inc.(JT) survey released Tuesday.

     The survey found the percentage of smokers among men hit a record
low of 46.9, down 1.4 points from a year before, posting the 13th
straight year-on-year fall.

     The percentage of women stood at 13.2, down 0.4 point for the third
straight year of decline.

     Based on the percentages, JT estimated the number of adult smokers
in Japan this year at 30.32 million -- 23.28 million men and 7.04
million women -- down 760,000 from the previous year.

     People in their 30s smoke the most in all age brackets, with the
percentage of men at 56.3 and that of women at 21.3.

     By region, the percentage of adult smokers was highest in Hokkaido
Prefecture -- 54.2 among men and 20.3 among women.

     The average number of cigarettes a regular smoker consumed eachday
was 22.4 for men, down half a cigarette from the year before, and 16.5
for women, down 0.7 cigarette.

     JT conducts the annual survey since 1965.