Confronted by the declining use of glass containers due to myriad economic and demographic problems, the Japanese glass container industry has faced a prlonged crisis. The challenges encountered have included changes in demand caused by a declining birth rate and an ageing population, the appreciation of the Yen due to a combination of factors including the EU debt crisis, recovery and reconstruction from the Japanese earthquake, high labour and raw materials costs, power shortages and last, but most significantly, challenge from other forms of low cost packaging. This article analyses recent trends in the Japanese glass container industry, a long-established business with significant strengths, but one that faces major economic challenges.
