Japan Tobacco chases Marlboro Man's maker in smokeless race

Tokyo

SMOKER Takumi Itou is an example of how much Japan Tobacco needs to catch up as international rivals gain ground in a battle to offer the next generation of smoking alternatives.

Mr Itou has been using a 9,980-yen (S$122) IQOS device made by Philip Morris International Inc that heats rather than burns tobacco. He'll have more choices now as Japan Tobacco begins selling a rival 4,000-yen product called Ploom Tech in Tokyo. However, Mr Itou said he's not interested after trying one that a friend owns.