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Anti-smoking bill leaves scope of ban-exempted restaurants undecided

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Where the rest of the world leads...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Please ban the tobacco filth. When i went to small restaurants in Tokyo i was appalled by the disgusting clouds of smoke polluting the air. Why is it legal at all even outside? It's hard for me with an allergy to hold my breath whenever i see someone holding a cigarrete, it's either that or an allergic reaction and sinus infection that lasts the entire day.

2 ( +14 / -12 )

Why put Japanese food under UNESCO world heritage if all smells the same like tobacco smoke. It's always the same, nobody is smoking except one.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

This is just nonsense on this as usual from the selfish people who benefit from smoking.

In all public areas except restaurants, well thats totally meaningless isn't it.. can't and shouldn't of course smoke on public transport (except those disgusting smoking rooms on the shinkansen) can't smoke in malls, train stations, most public large venues.. so restaurants are the place that need changing.. if it isn't then essentially nothing is changing..

5 ( +13 / -8 )

When i went to small restaurants in Tokyo i was appalled by the disgusting clouds of smoke polluting the air.

if you lot don't like smoking there are hundreds of non-smoking restaurants in Tokyo, like in Marunouchi for example. Use common sense and go to one of the many non-smoking ones, it's not rocket science.

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

Half-ass measures lead to fully failed results.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

Lobby groups win as they pay directly in cash to law makers, the decision has nothing to do with common sence or science just cash into old mens pockets.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

the decision has nothing to do with common sence or science

Your choice to go to a non-smoking restaurant or not is nothing but common sense.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

In civilised countries the norm is a ban on smoking in restaurants. In Japan this bill should be called "pro-smoking legislation" as it permits behaviour that is banned in other countries.

I also think the "smoking allowed" sign should show a red, coughing face surrounded by a haze of smoke to make clear what the atmosphere will be like inside.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

I don't like smoking in restaurants and bars either, but I do understand Japan's stance and why they are hesitant to create a total ban. Japanese culture has always had a strong customer focus "omotenashi" and it's for this reason they won't ban smoking completely. However, I do agree they need to make strict guidelines, but they also need to be enforced. There should be no smoking where ever there are children, of course. Then, it should be left to the restaurant owner to decide if smoking is allowed or not and it must be clearly stated whether it is a smoking restaurant or not. Many restaurants (possibly most) are already non-smoking. I'm sure that, as less and less people smoke it won't take very long for the owners who allow smoking to realise they are losing customers from not banning smoking and they will change by themselves.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

It is reported that 15,000 people die in Japan each year as a result of second hand smoke inhalation at work. To those people who insist that non-smokers "should just go to another restaurant", do you believe their deaths are justified by your desire to eat smoke flavored food?

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Lots of down votes but little reasonable comment in support of why smoking shouldn't be severely limited.. JT reps on here? Maybe just smokers?

Disillusioned.. omotenashi.. but really? an ever decreasing amount of people should be able to demonstrably effect the enjoyment and health of others?

Possibly most? Wish it was the case. I actively try to support non-smoking places whenever I can but there isn't enough. It seriously restricts your options even if you just don't want to spend the rest of the evening smelling terrible.

Kniknaknokkaer, I always feel extremely sad when I see parents smoking right in front of their kids in an inclosed space, and then others seeing a kid or baby is near by and just lighting up.

Simply it should be a workplace health issue and that employees and patrons shouldn't have to deal with it at all.

As for Japan and Japanese.. The experience here is one of generally positive things, with respect and a welcoming nature, why is this one thing excluded from that.. cigarette butts on the ground all over the place when there is almost no other rubbish, and people doing something that clearly a not insignificant percentage of people around them don't like.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Lots of down votes but little reasonable comment in support of why smoking shouldn't be severely limited.. JT reps on here? Maybe just smokers?

I agree. Something doesn't add up.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Lots of down votes but little reasonable comment in support of why smoking shouldn't be severely limited.. JT reps on here? Maybe just smokers?

Maybe we are just sick of you lot whining, or perhaps people just don't agree with you (I know non-smokers do think they are right all the time). As an occasional smoker I have to select my places to eat and sometimes that's difficult in Tokyo with so many restaurants turning to snobbery. Thus non smokers must choose their places too, like I said before its common sense. Just stay away from restaurants that allow smoking. There is no reason why both non-smoker and smoker cannot get what they want.

I always feel extremely sad when I see parents smoking right in front of their kids in an inclosed space, and then others seeing a kid or baby is near by and just lighting up.

Ok to feel sad, but none of your business really is it

Simply it should be a workplace health issue and that employees and patrons shouldn't have to deal with it at all.

Give me a break...

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Your choice to go to a non-smoking restaurant or not is nothing but common sense., no the common sense is smokers are in the minority and passive smoking has been medically proven to cause cancer so restaurant should be non smoking and smokers should choose to go to non-smoking restaurants or not.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

if you lot don't like smoking there are hundreds of non-smoking restaurants in Tokyo

Just a user you are missing the point. You're saying something like if you don't want to be murdered don't walk down the street. You're asking the victims to accept responsibility and change behavior instead of the perpetrator. Fortunately we don't live in that kind of world. As you no-doubt know you can smoke in almost every restaurant in Japan. Finding a non-smoking one is like finding a needle in a haystack. Tebelog.com, Japan's largest online restaurant registry has 89508 restaurants listed. 21693 are listed as non-smoking. Most of the restaurants listed as non-smoking are in fact smoking. I know this because I called over 15 in my area to confirm that they are completely non-smoking. NONE of them were actually non-smoking which I brought to the attention of Tebelog.com who contacted the restaurants and had them change their listings. Please look at the negative ratings on your posts and you'll see that most people vehemently disagree with your comments.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Your choice to go to a non-smoking restaurant or not is nothing but common sense., no the common sense is smokers are in the minority and passive smoking has been medically proven to cause cancer so restaurant should be non smoking and smokers should choose to go to non-smoking restaurants or not.

Not that you comment makes much sense but see this is what I mean about non-smokers always believing they are right, you people are such know-it-alls. Even for people like you it should be a simple process to pick a restaurant that is non-smoking. If as you say smokers are in the minority then you should have no problem finding one. As for passive smoking, you won't be will you if you are in a non-smoking place. Otherwise what the hell do you care about other people passive smoking. It's so simple.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

As an occasional smoker I have to select my places to eat and sometimes that's difficult in Tokyo with so many restaurants turning to snobbery

It is never difficult to smoke in a restaurant in Japan. Smoking is allowed in almost all restaurants. Go to Tabelog.com and input non-smoking in the filter and you will see how few non-smoking restaurants there are. Many restaurants list themselves as non-smoking when they have non-smoking tables next to smoking ones. The toxins are still in the air and carry on clothing. http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/24/1077497549008.html?from=storyrhs

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/feb/24/smoking.publichealth

https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/safety-and-public-health-news-585/no-smoking-sections-are-no-help-517586.html

Smokers are the cause of this, not non-smokers. Non-smokers "whining" is justified.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

It is never difficult to smoke in a restaurant in Japan.

It is never difficult to find non-smoking restaurants in Japan. At least not in Tokyo, its very very easy.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

As always, vested interests, cronies and poorly educated inept lawmakers and members of the elite in Japan delay it from catching up with other developed nations. Of course it's fine for folks to smoke in private but since they are now a minority (approximately 20 per cent of adults in Japan), the non-smoking majority must be able to go about their daily lives in public in a smoke free way. And that includes in restaurants. I predict Japan will eventually be forced to draft proper legislation to that effect.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Just a user

I was simply making an observation that I think was in line with the reality of the thread at that time. Comments were overwhelmingly against smoking but voted down..

You may only care about what you want, and perhaps your smoking behavior and opinion is example of that, but I care about other people, kids in the care of their parents have no choice or even understanding of the matter and clearly need to be protected if you think their parents, or some strangers vices are more important than the kids health.

Wanting a non smoking environment is snobbery? I think being the person in the room to light up without asking or taking notice is a far better example of that.

I don't think Im right all the time and open to reason and evidence on anything, and Im afraid for health reasons, my experience of the unpleasant nature of those environments and the responsibility we should all have to each other in society is at odds with the way smoking is dealt with in Japan.

As for availability of non-smoking establishments there have been factual replies to your opinion, you are wrong.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Over the decades I've been I've seen things change a lot, for the better. Smokers are now in the minority. Only a few Shinkansen even have smoking rooms, whereas it used to be all smoke-filled. The building I work in is entirely smoke free - whereas the buchos used to have ashtrays on their desks at the end of each desk island. More and more restaurants are going smoke-free to appeal to a growing market sector. And with the increasing difficulty of staffing restaurants due to the shortage of young people, creating a smoke-free work environment is a low cost way for businesses to appeal to the labour force.

Most of these changes have happened without strict laws or the support of the government. It would be nice to see the Ministry of Health, etc. get more of a win, but for now, I don't mind seeing small restaurants make the switch when and where they see best for their business. I am happy to see the impending Olympic and Paralympic games being used to further the case for more smoke-free places. (How about some love for the 2019 Rugby World Cup?)

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'm a non-smoker, but smokers have rights too.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Disillusioned

While it might not sound like it I agree, I do agree in a place where they are not effecting anyone else that doesn't want it, they should be able to smoke as they please, but its a really difficult thing to control fairly. Just like I have the right to punch the air until I get to someones face, a smoker should be free to smoke provided it isn't all over my clothes and in my lungs right?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Smoking needs to be eradicated from this planet in the shortest possible time.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Our place is no smoking and its no biggy at all, just the odd gg who moans. People should remember that bars and restaurants are not pubic places like say parks are. They are privately owned places where the public can choose to go or not as the case may be. Personally i think a blanket law banning smoking everywhere is the only real option but that far to simple i guess.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I'm a non-smoker, but smokers have rights too. yes but not at the expense of non-smokers right to clean air

7 ( +8 / -1 )

It's actually the smaller places that need to be non-smoking too.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

makes perfect sense, passive smoking causes cancer, why should a minority smokers dictate where the majority non-smokers go to eat or air they breath. If smokers want to share the same air space as non smokers then that shouldn't give them the right to contaminate that space with carcinogenics. we live in a democracy where the needs of the majority outweigh the needs of the minority. Being a democracy also means smoker have the right to smoke if they wish, but not at the inconvenience of the health on non-smokers. Most first world democratic societies have anti-smoking laws in place to protect the publics health just because Japan hasnt done this yet suddenly doent make it void of commone sense.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Oh no, that man sitting 30 meters away from me is smoking a cigarette! How could he be so inconsiderate of my health!" He said whilst shoveling karage into his gullet, powering on into the 2nd hour of his nomihoudai at the local cheap izakaya.

If you don't want smoke near you avoid bars and izakaya. Cook at home. People coming to live/work in a foreign country and then feeling entitled to tell the natives of that culture to change their laws is absolutely cancerous.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Completely agree with disillusioned and 'just a user' (the 'bad boys' on this thread).

Non-smoker here yet I don't want to impose my smoke-free lifestyle on everyone else, why should I? We non smokers have a choice and noone's forcing us to eat/drink alongside smokers.

Perso I like to have my arvo coffee in a smoke-free environment therefore always boycott old-school kissatens. Smokers have theirs, all good, I have no problem with that. Dinner-time's a bit different; avoid restos where patrons are more likely to smoke yet don't mind smallish izakayas where smoking is permitted if I know they'll be the minority (reckon 90% of the time there isn't even a single smoker in the resto). The only reason why a blanket smoking ban makes 'some' sense is to provide a smoke-free environment to employees.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

why should a minority smokers dictate where the majority non-smokers go to eat or air they breath

But they're not.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Non smoker as well but I think lot of those smaller restaurants (actually izakaya or pubs) rely exactly on the smokers as clientele! Thus the a bit disturbing sign on the glass that doesn't worn that smoking is allowed but rather inviting (You can enjoy smoking here) in Japanese!!!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The only reason why a blanket smoking ban makes 'some' sense is to provide a smoke-free environment to employees. and thats the exact reason why smoking was banned in government buildings a number of years ago, to provide employees a safe smoke free environment to work, oh and reduce chances of future law suits against the government for people that develop cancer from passive smoking.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

How about a health warning for restaurants that permit smoking?

Warning: This restaurant may be damaging to your health as it permits smoking. Not only does smoke damage your health, it destroys the taste and prevents the enjoyment of your food. Please assume that the management does not consider the taste of the food served important.

And don't just fine restaurants, remove their health certificate.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Non smokers have a right to clean air?  News to me.  Our air is full of pollutants without picking on smokers.

and also not sure why non smoking is somehow "civilized". 

Once we have eradicated smoking completely we will move onto the next thing to be outraged about and ban.  Makeup?  Perfume? 

It is dead easy to find a restaurant or bar that doesn't allow smoking.  Instead of preaching about rights to clean air or telling people how to live their lives, why not choose somewhere where you wont need to "put up with" smokers?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I'm a non-smoker, but smokers have rights too.

You are correct. They have the right to smoke somewhere they don't rape the rights of non smokers to breath clean air and to not smell like an ashtray. It's all pretty common sense. Seriously, I don't understand what's so complicated about it.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It is dead easy to find a restaurant or bar that doesn't allow smoking. 

Ha! No it isn't.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

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