picture of the day

Lighting up

38 Comments

Men smoke at a smoking area in the compound of the Defense Ministry in Tokyo.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

38 Comments
Login to comment

I'm not a fan of smoking and i don't like to be around it, but for those who do smoke they have every right to have a place in which they can smoke

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Robert Tan: smoking is good... it gives your mouth a better occupation, BETTER than talk big like many Westerners here.

How sad for you if smoking is the best thing you can think of to do with your mouth.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

no, my grandfather smokes until 83 and still healthy til now. my uncle never smokes and died of Tuberculosis in 40. namo amitabha.....

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"smoking is good"

Only for the cancer sticks, er, cigarette makers.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

smoking is good... it gives your mouth a better occupation, BETTER than talk big like many Westerners here.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

I wish all smoking areas were outside like this. There are too many smoking areas indoors, for example, the restaurants and izakayas where I would like to eat and drink.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

After all these aggressive comments, I find this pic very relaxing. I like it!

Keep cool!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Ah_so: I am not saying that the JapanToday anti-smoking crowd are just a sanctimonious bunch, parroting what they have been told throughout their lives, while getting a kick out of feeling morally superior to smokers, especially those native Japanese who just need to hear the Truth that comes from North America. Well, I suppose I am just a teeny bit.

Amen! Damn those anti-smoking nuts and their embrace of science. Far better be it for us to get our information from JT and the Japanese Government. That would make us much better informed and more independent thinkers.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

maria: If you're angry about people using our taxes for their selfish selves, what about all those long-living elderly people who simply won't die?

Everyone, to one extent or the other, benefits from tax spending in ways that don't benefit others so you can vilify every segment of the population. You could also support killing off people once they've reached a certain age, as some sort of utopia for capitalism. The elderly though have at least been productive and paid taxes. The same can't be said of children so perhaps they're the selfish ones.

Our taxes are going on their subsidised health care and transportation. Are you angry about them?

I'm not really sure what you mean by that? And again, kids, who've yet to contribute anything to society besides being cute, get discounts on transportation and subsidies simply for existing and no, neither makes me particularly angry. Kids aren't kids on purpose and aging is a natural condition. Neither can be said about smoking.

And if you're blaming people for how their lifestyle impacts your finances, what about all those people with babies and young kids? Their child benefits, more free and subsidized transport and healthcare. Lots of people without kids are having to fork out for the breeders - how is that fair?

First, see above. Second, if anyone is to be blamed for how their lifestyle impacts my finances, yes, certainly smokers are up there, among others who willfully and knowingly opt to damage their own health. As for people with kids, well there are fewer and fewer of them these days anyway but I suppose that to a large extent we do need them, if for no other reason than to have them grow up, get jobs and subsidize the health care all of the people sick from smoking related diseases who won't selflessly hurry up and die.

All in all, anyone who complains about the cost of something they don't benefit from, is doing the whole glass-house-meet-stone thing.

I'm not sure what you mean by this one either. So, if I don't benefit from chemotherapy, breathing machines, bronchial medication, etc. because I don't have any smoking related diseases and I complain because I'm not benefiting from those things, I'm being a hypocrite? How does that work?

This photo has turned out to be quite a talking point after all! Thank gawd for angry people

Indeed but what's a "gawd"?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

wakairmasen: I am sure that those heartless smokers have left SOMEWHERE nice for you poor non-smokers to relax. Not everyone hates smokers - just the non-smokers who are a bit fanatical about their non-smoking.

I don't hate smokers and never said I did. It's the smoking I hate. I have friends who smoke and I love them dearly but don't like to be around their cigarettes.

I was being a little ironic about us smokers being sickly and shortlived.

I'm not quite sure how that's ironic since you do tend to be sickly or at least more sickly and shorter-lived than non-smokers.

but your long list of how smoking messes up the world kind of makes the point. Did smokers also kill Jesus? Are you equally riled up about people drinking alcohol? I bet drugs really get you going.

Seriously? You're resorting to ridiculous hyperbole to defend your argument? And for the record, neither the topics of alcohol nor drugs rile me up unless we are talking about people driving while impaired or doing any other types of dangerous activities, in public, while impaired. If you want to smoke, drink or shoot up in the privacy of your own home, can do so without hurting anyone but yourself and do not need anyone to foot the bill for your lung cancer treatments, liver transplant or rehab, have at. I really and truly do not care.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I am a rabid anti-smoking fanatic, but i have no problems with them smoking in a designated smoking area.

afanofjapan: why clearly you are not a rabid anti-smoking fanatic - firstly 'rabid' and 'fanatic' are only ever used in a pejorative way. Secondly if you were a rabid fanatic you would hate people smoking anywhere at all, to the extent that it has become a dogmatic, almost irrational hatred.

I am not saying that the JapanToday anti-smoking crowd are just a sanctimonious bunch, parroting what they have been told throughout their lives, while getting a kick out of feeling morally superior to smokers, especially those native Japanese who just need to hear the Truth that comes from North America. Well, I suppose I am just a teeny bit.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

bicycled to work today... an older well dressed man in cycling in front of me threw his cigarette but and almost hit me. Yelled at him. Looking on the street there are hundreds of cigarette buts on the ground. It seems that most smokers are slobs.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I am a rabid anti-smoking fanatic, but i have no problems with them smoking in a designated smoking area.

Even after they smoke there, the smell is only on them, not wafting into my nostrils like if they were smoking next to me.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Of course it is a talking point. It has so many things that get JT'ers talking. Men Cigarettes Men smoking cigarettes Ministry of Defence

Plus it is pretty.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

If you're angry about people using our taxes for their selfish selves, what about all those long-living elderly people who simply won't die?

Our taxes are going on their subsidised health care and transportation. Are you angry about them?

And if you're blaming people for how their lifestyle impacts your finances, what about all those people with babies and young kids? Their child benefits, more free and subsidized transport and healthcare. Lots of people without kids are having to fork out for the breeders - how is that fair?

...

All in all, anyone who complains about the cost of something they don't benefit from, is doing the whole glass-house-meet-stone thing.

This photo has turned out to be quite a talking point after all! Thank gawd for angry people!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Near should be no nice.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Very near spot for smokers or not.

While being a non-smoker I do have smoking friends and an ash-tray at home for their use, they keep it moderate around me.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Bgaudry 'You ( smokers ) realise that everyone hates you'. Everyone? Speak for yourself, please.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Gee I winder if there is nice little spot set up for non-smokers??

Or is it a shared area LOL!!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Looks like a nice location. Ministry of Defence must value their employees, even if they do smoke.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I am sure that those heartless smokers have left SOMEWHERE nice for you poor non-smokers to relax. Not everyone hates smokers - just the non-smokers who are a bit fanatical about their non-smoking. I was being a little ironic about us smokers being sickly and shortlived.

What's your proof or are you just saying that in the hopes of not being challenged on your assertion? The costs incurred as a result of smoking are not just those for the medical care of smokers. They are also those for the medical care of people who suffer the effects of second-hand smoke, decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and fire damage. In fact, approximately 5% of all health care expenditures in Japan are a result of smoking and smokers spend 14% more on dental care than non-smokers, or should I say, we all spend more on dental care for smokers since we all pay into the health care system?

No real proof (although I think there was some work done in the UK and EU on this point that showed huge tax incomes on smokes and less speding on lung machines and smoking realted therapies). . but your long list of how smoking messes up the world kind of makes the point. Did smokers also kill Jesus? Are you equally riled up about people drinking alcohol? I bet drugs really get you going.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

They get on the trains and stink up the whole place.

I've encountered people on trains that didn't smoke that stank up the whole place.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

It must suck to be a smoker, not only are you killing yourself AND stinking, but also every time a smoking related topic comes up you realise that everyone hates you.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

wakarimasen: And it doesn't "hurt all of society". Seems unfair to pick on smokers as they already have smoking related illnesses and are likely to die younger anyway.

Illnesses which they've brought on themselves and illnesses to which they've exposed others.

And taxes on cigarettes are way more than spending on sick smokers.

What's your proof or are you just saying that in the hopes of not being challenged on your assertion? The costs incurred as a result of smoking are not just those for the medical care of smokers. They are also those for the medical care of people who suffer the effects of second-hand smoke, decreased productivity, increased absenteeism and fire damage. In fact, approximately 5% of all health care expenditures in Japan are a result of smoking and smokers spend 14% more on dental care than non-smokers, or should I say, we all spend more on dental care for smokers since we all pay into the health care system?

http://businessgrouphealth.org/tobacco/global/japan.cfm http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=665&subcatid=125

And it is nice of the Defence Ministry to provide such picturesques surroundings for our hard working civil servants to smoke

Yes, very nice of them to give the nicest outdoor placers to the smokers so the non-smokers have nowhere pleasant to sit around and relax.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Choking smokers, Don't you think the joker laughs at you?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

And it is nice of the Defence Ministry to provide such picturesques surroundings for our hard working civil servants to smoke.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

And taxes on cigarettes are way more than spending on sick smokers.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

And it doesn't "hurt all of society". Seems unfair to pick on smokers as they already have smoking related illnesses and are likely to die younger anyway.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Smoking is cool.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

...and next picture from Finance Ministry compound who's are more faithful to Japan Tobacco !

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Their addiction hurts all of society in lost productivity and medical fees (smokers are sick on average 10% more than non-smokers).

1 ( +8 / -7 )

What a bunch of sad addicted losers. Each one of them will live at least ten years less due to their addiction to tobacco. And do they stink! They get on the trains and stink up the whole place.

3 ( +12 / -9 )

Filthy habit? Take it easy. Even when people are abiding to the rules, you still manage to complain. Go indulge on a Big Mac!

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

Wonder where they go when it rains or snows?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Bilderberg - but much less filthy when they are doing it in an area away from non smokers no? Outdoors, well ventilated? Personally I don't see the problem.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Are they breaking any law??? I would not be happy if I was out smoking (I don't smoke by the way) and my photo ended up here!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Erm...

I like the courtyard - nice spiral.

Shame they didn't put a couple of benches in. Overall, Japan would benefit from having more benches.

Good that they keep to the smoking area. And there aren't that many of them.

Er...

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Filthy habit.

4 ( +16 / -12 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites