Home DNA Testing Starts to Gain Ground in Japan’s Aging Society

DNA testing at home in Japan is starting to gain traction as more people age and seek answers about their risks for diseases.

The market for consumer genetic tests is poised to reach 6.6 billion yen ($58 million) in sales by 2022, up from 4.3 billion yen last year, according to Fuji Chimera Research Institute. The sector is dominated by two local companies, Genesis Healthcare Co. and Genequest Inc. For 5,000 yen to 30,000 yen, customers can send off a cheek swab to find out their propensities for alcohol intolerance and allergies, to risks of diabetes and strokes.

Japan is ...