FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tokyo, July 27, 2017

JT's Annual Survey Finds 18.2 % of Japanese Adults Are Smokers

Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) (TSE: 2914) today announced the results of its Japan Smoking Rate Survey, a study that has been carried out annually since 1965. The survey, conducted in May 2017, showed that 18.2% of Japanese adults are smokers. Other results are summarized below.

  1. Japanese smoking rate as of May 2017

    2016

    2017

    Change since prior year (percentage points)

    Men

    29.7%

    28.2%

    -1.5 ppt

    Women

    9.7%

    9.0%

    -0.7 ppt

    Total

    19.3%

    18.2%

    -1.1 ppt

  2. Japanese smoking population as of May 2017 (estimate based on the smoking rate)

(Unit: millions)

2016

2017

Change since prior year

Men

14.98

14.26

-0.72

Women

5.28

4.91

-0.37

Total

20.27

19.17

-1.1

The 2017 figures were calculated based on the adult population provided by the Statistics

Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications as of April 1, 2017, which were 50.56 million men and 54.53 million women, respectively. The 2016 figures were based on the population as of April 1, 2016, which were 50.45 million men and 54.45 million women.

The Company is of the view that the smoking rate in Japan has been on a declining trend. The decrease is due to various factors, including the aging of society, growing awareness about the health risks associated with smoking, tightening of smoking-related regulations and the tax and price hike.

JT will continue its efforts to realize a society in which smokers and non-smokers can co-exist in harmony.

Outline of the 2017 Japan Smoking Rate Survey

The survey was conducted in May 2017 using a stratified two-stage sampling method, by mailing questionnaires to approximately 32,000 adult men and women nationwide. JT collected 19,875 (61.9%) valid responses from the total population surveyed.

Sample age ranges

Percentages: Proportion of sample group

Figures below percentages represent the number of valid respondents

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60 and above

Total

Men

15.5%

1,523

11.9%

1,163

16.1%

1,582

15.1%

1,481

41.4%

4,055

100.0%

9,804

Women

8.0%

803

13.6%

1,368

18.4%

1,858

16.6%

1,667

43.4%

4,375

100.0%

10,071

Total

11.7%

2,326

12.7%

2,531

173%

3,440

15.8%

3,148

42.4%

8,430

100.0%

19,875

When calculating the survey figures, the above figures are corrected to reflect composition of the adult population.

###

Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco company. Its products are sold in over 120 countries and its globally recognized brands include Winston, Camel, Mevius, LD and Natural American Spirit. With diversified operations, JT is also actively present in pharmaceuticals and processed foods. The company's revenue was

¥2.143 trillion (US$19,703 million(*)) in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

*Translated at the rate of ¥108.78 per $1

Contacts:

Masahito Shirasu, General Manager

Reimi Kawato, Associate Manager

Media and Investor Relations Division

Japan Tobacco Inc.

Tokyo: +81-3-5572-4292

E-mail: jt.media.relations@jt.com

Reference Information
  1. Breakdown of Japanese smoking rate

    Smoking rate (percentage of people who smoke) by age and region is shown for reference. The accuracy of the breakdown is approximate due to small sample sizes.

  2. Smoking rate by age

    Men Women

    （％）

    40.0

    35.0

    30.0

    25.0

    20.0

    15.0

    10.0

    5.0

    0.0

    Age

    Sex

    20-29

    30-39

    40-49

    50-59

    60

    and above

    Men

    22.8

    32.1

    36.7

    35.1

    21.2

    Women

    7.0

    11.5

    13.7

    13.1

    5.6

  3. Smoking rate by region

    Men Women

    （％）

    45.0

    40.0

    35.0

    30.0

    25.0

    20.0

    15.0

    10.0

    5.0

    0.0

    Region

    Sex

    Hokkaido

    Tohoku

    Kanto

    Hokuriku Koshinetsu

    Tokai

    Kinki

    Chugoku

    Shikoku

    Kyusyu Okinawa

    Men

    32.5

    35.4

    28.2

    26.0

    26.9

    27.1

    26.8

    23.1

    27.6

    Women

    16.9

    8.5

    9.2

    8.3

    7.3

    10.1

    6.3

    6.7

    8.6

  4. Number of cigarettes smoked

  5. The average number of cigarettes smoked* by respondents who answered that he/she "smokes every day"

    *The number of cigarettes usually smoked daily

    The average number of cigarettes smoked per day is as follows.

    Men

    18.1 cigarettes

    Women

    14.7 cigarettes

    The average number of cigarettes smoked in 2016 was 18.5 for men and 14.7 for women.

  6. The average number of cigarettes smoked by smokers' age

  7. For reference, the number of cigarettes smoked by smokers' age is as follows. The accuracy of the breakdown is approximate.

    Men Women

    （Number of cigarettes）

    25.0

    20.0

    15.0

    10.0

    5.0

    0.0

    Age

    Sex

    20-29

    30-39

    40-49

    50-59

    60

    and above

    Men

    13.8

    16.5

    18.6

    19.8

    19.0

    Women

    13.6

    13.7

    15.3

    15.0

    14.8

Japan Tobacco Inc. published this content on 27 July 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 July 2017 06:09:21 UTC.

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