The annual consumption of ice cream in Japan was 6.7 litres per person in 2021 (compared to 10 litres/person in Canada and 20 litres/person in the U.S.). For all dairy, Japanese people each ate 94 kg in 2022.

They eat less dairy, but hardly none. I have heard people say that a scoop of ice cream or a glass of milk each day is not a problem, but more can be. Intolerance also seems to increase with age, so younger people can consume more dairy.

A 1975 study in Japan puts intolerance (unable to drink 200ml of milk comfortably) at 19% of the population. I would suspect that massive exposure over the past 50 years has lowered that percentage significantly.

So does Thailand but we also have Yakult ladies here, they just sell the drinks though.

A video on how it’s possible for lactose intolerant peoples to still eat lots of dairy.

Case in video: Chinese and milk tea

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=At_WjGosTNM

How come Yakult is a nearly 100 years old Japanese company?

Most yogurt cultures reduces lactose content of the milk base during fermentation. Some cultures like the one Yakult uses supports increased lactose digestion in humans. At the same time lactose intolerance is not binary but a spectrum.

The first line is true, the second line is false.

Lactose intolerance is not absolute.