JAPAN
Japan: Heated Tobacco Devices
September 2026: Philip Morris Japan Expands IQOS ILUMA i Lineup with New “Bold Ruby” Color Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) has officially expanded its flagship heat-not-burn tobacco device portfolio by introducing a vibrant new regular color option, “Bold Ruby,” for the IQOS ILUMA i series. The new colorway is available for
Japan: Nicotine pouches
September 2026: BAT Japan Expands Nationwide FamilyMart Sales for “VELO Peach Ice Medium” Nicotine Pouches British American Tobacco (BAT) has expanded the retail distribution of “VELO Peach Ice Medium” nicotine pouches, making the product available at FamilyMart convenience stores nationwide across Japan. The expansion follows strong consumer demand after the
Japan: Heated Tobacco Sticks
September 2026: Japan Tobacco Expands Ploom Lineup with EVO Cacao Mint Crystal and Mevius Tropical Option Japan Tobacco (JT) announced two additions to its Ploom heated tobacco stick portfolio: EVO Cacao Mint Crystal and Mevius Tropical Option. Both products are set for nationwide release on October 6, 2026. The EVO
Japan: Heated Tobacco Market
September 2026: Philip Morris International Opens First Global IQOS Flagship Store in Ginza, Tokyo Philip Morris International (PMI) has officially opened its first global IQOS flagship store in Tokyo’s premier Ginza shopping district. The new “IQOS Flagship Ginza” opened its doors on September 4, 2026, marking a major milestone for
Japan: Tobacco Market
August 2026: JT to Release 80th-Anniversary Packaging for Peace Cigarettes Japan Tobacco (JT) announced it will release limited-edition packaging across four products in its Peace cigarette lineup to commemorate the brand’s 80th anniversary. The temporary packaging retains the layout of the standard line while featuring an enlarged version of the
Tobacco Regulation: Japan
July 2026: Japan Backs Off From Tighter Restrictions on Heated Tobacco Products Japan’s health ministry has decided to defer implementing stricter regulations on heated tobacco products (HTPs) for the time being. The decision comes as part of an ongoing review of the country’s secondhand smoke measures, originally enacted under the
Japan: Ploom Heated Tobacco
Ploom AURA Ploom AURA is the fourth-generation model of the Ploom heated tobacco platform and made its debut in Japan in May 2025. Ploom AURA is visually completely different from the previous model (Ploom X), adopting a slender form and a reduced weight of 75.5 grams (compared to c. 95g
