I'd guess that Japan taxes the crap out of that "article of taste" just like the US does.Actually, not really. A premium imported brand costs 280yen per pack, a domestic brand costs 250yen per pack (~$2). By Japanese standards, that's cheap.
Can't have revenues drop all of a sudden can we?
Japan Tobacco bought out RJ Reynolds, if I recall correctly, so Japan has a huge market share world wide of tobacco sales.
Hey , up until about 20 years ago the GOVERNMENT was selling cigs . As far as I know JT is a private company and HUGE . The government has no interest in seeing the " people to be governed " quit butts . The tax revenue obviously greater than the amount they shell out for hospitalizing those with lung and other cancers caused by smoking .