Japan Camera Output Rises for 2nd Straight Year as Youth Demand Revives Market

1 articles · Updated · Notebookcheck.net · Aug 19

Japanese camera production rose again in 2025 after increasing in 2024, marking the first two-year expansion in nearly 20 years.
METI attributed the rebound mainly to younger buyers seeking better photo and video quality for social media than smartphones can deliver.
Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras have driven much of the recovery, while compact cameras have also improved since 2023 and SLRs have nearly vanished.
The turnaround follows a steep long-term collapse: Japan made about 37 million still cameras and 12 million video cameras in 2006, versus roughly 2 million total units in 2024.
The ministry said the market is now stable, though the industry remains far below the peaks reached before smartphones reshaped consumer imaging.