Japan Estimates 350,000 Have Tried Cocaine, but Total Amount Seized Fell

The number of people in Japan estimated to have tried cocaine reached a record high of approximately 350,000 in fiscal 2025, according to a survey by the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry. The figure comes from a poll in which 0.4 percent of 3,156 respondents aged 15 to 64 said they had used the drug at least once, with the center extrapolating the nationwide total.

This marks the highest estimate since the agency began collecting data under its current model in 2007.

Arrests for cocaine possession also set a record, with 804 cases recorded in 2025 by the National Police Agency. That total is sharply higher than the roughly 160 arrests logged in 2021. Government statistics showed more attempts to smuggle the drug through airports and ports last year, yet the overall volume seized declined, indicating smaller individual shipments.

The survey found that invitations to try cocaine rose, particularly among young women. Men reported a higher lifetime usage rate at 0.5 percent compared with 0.3 percent for women, while respondents in their 40s showed the highest rate of any age group. The study was conducted between October and December 2025 among 5,000 randomly selected people, yielding 3,156 valid responses.

Marijuana remained the most commonly tried illicit substance, with 1.6 percent of respondents reporting prior use, equating to an estimated 1.41 million people nationwide. Smaller shares said they had tried stimulants at 0.5 percent, MDMA at 0.4 percent and heroin at 0.3 percent, figures that remained comparable to prior surveys.