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Japan fails to toughen passive smoking ban due to resistance

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A horumon restaurant serves cow intestines, and bazushi is raw horse meat. Would you choose to enter these?One restaurant near here serves raw chicken hearts, gizzards etc., which could also be unhealthy for some.

And how is this related to PASSIVE smoking ?? You have the choice to eat something else but no choice with that smoke..

Something inside me rebels against blanket bans!

In this case that blanket ban is required, you want to smoke, smoke but ensure others don't end up inhaling that smoke.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Besides public transportion, off you go! I'm from Canada. I'm waiting.

Waiting for what? For an end to blasphemy laws? Or to be able to buy beer at the supermarket? Or for the annual Orange parade to pass your house? Or for the lung cancer rate to fall to that of Japan? Or just for Justin Bieber's next release?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

gaijintraveller - Smoking in restaurants is so third-world.

Ignoring the will of the voters is so puissant/dictatorial.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

moneyyen - Vote those LDP Members out now!!!

Everybody needs to post this on their Facebook and make it go viral against them.

Facebook? Seriously?

As far as voting LDP members out, are you suggesting that the voters should decide which political party should lead the country? And that the elected party/coalition in power should make the rules? Are you aware that Japan recently had an election, and the voters have spoken?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Smoking in restaurants is so third-world.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Second hand smoke makes me feel physically ill but I do recognize that the world doesn’t revolve around me and my needs. Cigarette smoke contains hazardous contents so I will move away from it in public places. It is perfectly reasonable to regulate in the work place and in hospital rooms where people’s ability to avoid it is close to impossible.

People know that it is dangerous but many choose to smoke anyway. Let’s not get carried away with restrictions on other people’s exercise of individual choice. I will not presume to tell other adults how they must behave or be faced with government enforced sanctions. How about compromise instead of dictating personal behavior?

And just how is Big Brother going to ban smoking in people’s homes? That idea is downright Orwellian.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Should have been ' my kid can't.

Last I checked smoking rates in the UK and US were significantly higher than I expected from commenters here.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Everyone is a tough and unrealistic call, what is next 'my is can't be friends with yours because you smile's or similar.

People these days tend to go overboard what happened to live and let live, way too many SJW out there that refuse to find the middle way.

Waiting for the down votes.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

everyone needs to start boycotting restaurants and other places that allow smoking

0 ( +2 / -2 )

There are ways Japan is more developed than wherever you came from, and things it can take and learn from too.

Besides public transportion, off you go! I'm from Canada. I'm waiting.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I don’t care what people do, if they want to stink and smoke themselves to death, not my problem, however, when someone sits next to me or my family and lights up, that’s where I draw the line. To me it’s the worst thing eating a nice meal and some idiot next to you blowing smoke next to you. 

Totally agree, don't see how any meal can taste good with eau de cigarette gracing the air...really puts a damper on cafe or dining experience. After living with something with asthma, I noticed how bad it can be...my roommate going into attacks and having to use an inhaler in her own home because someone was smoking on their veranda below ours, same thing happening in restaurants, cafes, etc. Education on the health risks is really lacking. Where's a No Stank You campaign when you need one?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Serious business here. We're not talking about something as trivial as changing the constitution, eh?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Stupid. I don't mind smoking myself, being good friends with smokers and having dated smokers in the past, but a lot of friends comment on it when they visit Japan. I've ended up just hoping that my favourite restaurants are nearly empty when I take friends there so they won't have their dining experience ruined by the smoke. It's not going to be a good look come the Tokyo Olympics.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Vote those LDP Members out now!!!

Everybody needs to post this on their Facebook and make it

go viral against them.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

So, the Japanese tobacco company JT, which is 49% owned by the Japanese government has overruled a decision to limit smoking on economic grounds? Yeah, that sounds about right.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Pathetic... If the Japanese government wants to be seen as progressive and caring for the population they need to ban smoking in all indoor public areas and in all workplaces. Screw the tobacco companies - they peddle death and should be ignored. Who cares what they want? The needs of the people and public health should come first.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

With some members holding strong ties with tobacco and restaurant industries, 

We all know that this is the problem and this is called in my country corruption, knowing that those “ties” are financial. No country that I know where rule of law is prevailing would ever tolerate such an open corruption, moreover where the health of people is engaged. This is disgraceful and and such systemic corruption in this country is really horrible.

Now I don’t care that people decide to smoke, that’s their freedom and I respect that. But that’s the government responsibility to make sure that people who don’t decide to do so can go to a public place and not expose their health to a toxic smoke. And this also the government responsibility to at least educate people on the serious danger of cigarettes, something that that is extremely poorly done in Japan precisely because this is a country where tabacco companies can say basically directly to the government what they want.

I see on a regular basis people smoking right in front of their kids or kids sitting with their parents in the smoking are of a restaurant (when a real one does exist which is still rare). This makes look Japanese totally stupid and clueless preople.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There are ways Japan is more developed than wherever you came from....

Developed countries - and many developing countries - formulate public health policy based on science and medical research -- not politicians' vested interests and public image.

In this case, Japan is behaving like a third world basket case. One thing I'm looking forward to about my New Year holiday this year in Vietnam is the prospect of smoke-free restaurants.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Tmarie

A little much of you too in my opinion to be running around labeling some as “developed” and others as “not”. Quite rude and crude. It is completely theoretically possible that a chain smoking nation becomes the worlds “most developed” as well.

There are ways Japan is more developed than wherever you came from, and things it can take and learn from too.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

So much for a "health ministry " !!!

you misspelt. it is the "health business ministry".

-The government remains required by law to own at least one-third of JT's stock

-Revenue ¥2.033 trillion (2012)

a few times i told japanese or foreigners to stop smoking in smoke free zones, i have been attacked or threatened with violence. that just gives a hint of these addicts mentality.

pregnant women smoke, mothers taking children to school in cars smoke. taxi drivers stand on the curb and smoke in popular tourist destinations, don't even think about walking past a combini in the morning, lunchtime or after work.

my ex-partners father lost a lung from smoking. after he continued, now i have to take flowers to his grave.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Lung cancer... (?) lung cancer......... (?) nope, never heard of that...

2 ( +6 / -4 )

where my friend works they have an out side covered smoking area, recently the company removed one of the roof panels, as they didn't want any smokers getting affected from passive smoking!! how messed up us brits are!!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

What the government need to do next is send the plod around nick a few restaurant owners, take them to court and make an example out of them! then the owners of shops etc will start to take note.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Developing nation dressed up as a developed nation. This is pathetic but not shocking to anyone who lives here and know how the government works. Congrats old men. You got rewarded on Sunday and get to continue running this country into the ground without a care about the younger generations who will have to live with the mess.

Excellent post marie!! Just felt that I had  to quote it!

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Developing nation dressed up as a developed nation. This is pathetic but not shocking to anyone who lives here and know how the government works. Congrats old men. You got rewarded on Sunday and get to continue running this country into the ground without a care about the younger generations who will have to live with the mess.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

On the other hand I do like the idea that Japan is not bowled over by every wave from abroad, but gradually finds its own working interpretation and allows a measure of choice. As some have mentioned above, the passive smoking environment has radically improved here over the last 30 years, even if there is a way to go yet.

The sign above advertises that this particular restaurant allows people to enjoy smoking, and it warns potential customers still outside (in Japanese, granted) to be aware of this fact before entering the premises.

If it was a dog or a cat cafe, then allergic people can make a similar decision as to whether to enter or not. A horumon restaurant serves cow intestines, and bazushi is raw horse meat. Would you choose to enter these?One restaurant near here serves raw chicken hearts, gizzards etc., which could also be unhealthy for some. 

Something inside me rebels against blanket bans!

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

No workers should ever be exposed to second hand smoke. Who's going to pay the health care ?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

The 3 large hospitals which I have experience of ALL ban smoking anywhere on the premises, inside and out, so your sweeping statement is not accurate.

Just go to Jikei University Hospital in central Tokyo. The front of the building is like a smoking parlor. 

Across the street is where all the housewives take their cute little babies for care, and that happens to be where all the Taxi drivers wait to pick them up and they are all smoking..... I think it is a big problem, as common sense doesn't seem to work in Japan.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

It is absolutely mind-boggling that in 2017 smoking is still not banned near and around medical facilities,

The 3 large hospitals which I have experience of ALL ban smoking anywhere on the premises, inside and out, so your sweeping statement is not accurate.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

I’ve always said, the government in general supports the tobacco industry. I don’t care what people do, if they want to stink and smoke themselves to death, not my problem, however, when someone sits next to me or my family and lights up, that’s where I draw the line. To me it’s the worst thing eating a nice meal and some idiot next to you blowing smoke next to you. My brother in law smokes, but never in the house and never near the kids. But to be fair, Japan has come quite a long way. I remember the 90’s being a giant chimney and everyone was just lighting up, it was horrible, but I have hope that within a few more years these politicians will get the squeeze to push for heavily regulating cigarettes and ultimately banning them.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

thepersoniamnowToday wrote:

That being said, changes do take time, especially in notoriously slow moving and very old Japan. When I returned here in 2002 people were smoking on train platforms, in cabs, and all over the street, and at most pedestrian crossings, outside stores etc. Things HAVE changed in this regard, and they have changed for the better.

Too true. My first half-dozen years here in Japan had no less than three teachers regularly smoking in the teachers' room, while students came and went preparing for classes. I shudder to think about it. Even more so as one year one of the staff was pregnant at the time.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Agreed, pathetic. Well you can expect to reap the whirlwind when the Olympic athletes arrive.

Then businesses will lose more than just a few smokers.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

I was at a Jolly OX in the "non smoking " section and this guy and his family came in and sat behind me as he lit up and started smoking. I asked the waiter if this was the non smoking area and she said it was. I told her I don't want to be smelling his smoke and asked her to ask him to put the cig out. She went to him very VERY quietly for like 32 seconds and came back to offer me a seat away from his smoke. So I see this "smoking ban" to be a JOKE.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

I've no issues with people smoking provided it doesn't affect others, but I think there needs to be nationwide campaigns about the selfishness of second hand smoking. Somehow people still think it's cool and don't give a second thought about the health of those around them.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

That being said, changes do take time, especially in notoriously slow moving and very old Japan.

When I returned here in 2002 people were smoking on train platforms, in cabs, and all over the street, and at most pedestrian crossings, outside stores etc.

Things HAVE changed in this regard, and they have changed for the better

11 ( +13 / -2 )

@Luddite… or a fag?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Just goes to show how much the LDP is keeping Japan a backwards nation

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Never heard of anything so pathetic and corrupt!!! Japan still has smoking in hospitals and government buildings? So much for a "health ministry " !!!

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Same old, same old.......

The LDP don't give a fig about public health.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Being Japan most regulations have no penalty, yes passive smoking is foul, in Australia smoking in a car containing an under 18yo gets you a $ fine. It is enforced. When senior government ministers aka Aso actually fly in the face of facts and say smoking is not a cancer threat? Pretty obvious nothing will change, Surprisingly school lunches don't come with a cigarette. Yet.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Well, since the voters of Japan overwhelmingly want chain-smoking LDP politicians and a government that profits off tobacco sales, what can you expect? Health? C’mon, what politician makes money off of healthy people?

12 ( +13 / -1 )

What do they expect when laws have no teeth or punishment.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Zero tolerance for secondhand smoking at home? What? Are they going to tell people what they can do or not at home? How is that even going to work?

Anyway, I guess I'll just have to keep skipping my favourite ramen shop, bars and salsa dance club. Sigh. At least I'll be saving some money.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

So the ruling party win an election and fall at the first hurdle. Talk about a three-legged horse in a fixed race.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Clearly it indicates the lack of committment of this govt to addressing the huge tobacco causing health issues in Japan, both for users and non-users. That the Health ministry has little sway against the "mob", shows the ldp's true colours re how much it cares for it's citiizens.

Inc wins handsdown.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

eradication of passive smoking at medical facilities by fiscal 2020

It is absolutely mind-boggling that in 2017 smoking is still not banned near and around medical facilities, THE place to get healthy and instead you will get lung cancer. Bah.

16 ( +24 / -8 )

Lol, money talks. What else is new?

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Pretty obvious big business runs Japan

19 ( +23 / -4 )

What a surprise, not.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

shocker...

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Tabacco in Japan is big government business!

25 ( +29 / -4 )

Hello? If anyone who voted for the LDP complains about this they have no one to blame but themselves!

This is a result of the LDP really not giving a shite about the health and welfare of the population!

11 ( +23 / -12 )

Yet more news to shake my head at in frustration.

18 ( +28 / -10 )

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