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Pro-smoking LDP lawmaker apologizes for heckling cancer patient

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You could not make this up, you can't parade these Law Makers...really in the face of facts they sick to "it's harmless". Mock suffering people who took the time to explain their pain. Just when you think the LDP have hit rock bottom they manage to show themselves to be so disengaged from humanity, it's bamboozling that people actually vote them in and are OK paying there astrological Salerys.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

The only qualifications these Japanese 'law makers' have is money and power. They are just a bunch of spoiled idiots that have never had to work and have very limited education. It should be no surprise to hear them make fools of themselves over and over again.

I cannot count the amount of times I've seen a Japanese parent sitting in a smoky izakaya with a baby or toddler on their lap chugging away on a smoke. It's absolutely disgraceful! Furthermore, how about banning smoking in cars with kids in it, like 'modern' countries have done?

16 ( +18 / -2 )

Yoichi Anami is a disgusting individual. And if he wasn't shouted down by his colleagues for it, then shame on them too.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

and yet, Japanese have a longer life span than most non-smoking nations.

Number one cause of death in Japan for men is lung cancer. Your statement is stupid. It is like saying that Japan suicides are 30,000. a year. but still 125 million live so those lives do not matter?

If you want to support smoking just come out and say it. Something like this, I know my disgusting habit causes cancer in those around me but I do not care. Anami would fully agree with you.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

LDP lawmakers are really letting themselves go since they won the last election...

I just checked : at stage 4 cancer, life expectancy is 12 months.

What kind of man are you if you treat someone who's dying like that ?

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Yoichi Anami, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, shouted "Enough already!"

I just murmured my feelings that smokers should not be discriminated against more than necessary," he said in the statement on his website.

coward and liar.

Activists say about 15,000 Japanese, many of them women and children, die from passive smoking every year.

who needs foreign enemies? Japan has the LDP and its supporters to kill as many innocent women and children as they like.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

Anami - another arrogant jerk from the L(egal) D(rugs) P(arty) who's apparently discovered Trump's political playbook bashing the vulnerable so as to pose as a phony macho populist catering to the basest instincts of the hoi polloi.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

So it was an LDP lawmaker who did the heckling. What a surprise. I wonder how much of his election campaign funds come from tobacco farmers.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

jeering a lung cancer patient

The true face of the LDP revealed. When on earth are the Japanese people going to wake up and throw their corrupt overlords in the sea?

14 ( +16 / -2 )

I have more respect for Yakuza that your average J-lawmaker.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

What a scumbag.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

This country this country is so behind that they have to put a lung cancer patient to testify in a courtroom to explain the dangers of second-hand smoke to all the adults. Think about this for a while....

It it reminds me of when I was a teenager and they would bring in an ex drug addict to our classroom to warn us about heroin

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Hey another case of foot in mouth . How many does that make now? Seriously, why doesn't anyone rise up against these buffoons?

Feel free to let him know your feelings:

http://anamin.net/inquiry.html

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Disgusting. Is that the right of smokers to inflict cancer on non smokers that is being referred to? Japan should step into the 90s

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Politicians are there to represent their constituents not themselves, this man is described as Pro tobacco not pro his constituents. Vile

10 ( +10 / -0 )

However, I have read the studies about second-hand smoke and cancer, and the most rigorous studies find no link whatsoever. Surprisingly, many have found the opposite to be true, that those exposed to second-hand smoke are less likely to get cancer than people who are not. Below is a interesting quote from Michael Crichton, Harvard MD (and creator of "Jurassic Park").

You have read all the most rigorous studies, yet you cite Michael Chrichton who did zero research on the question as your source?

I have no way of evaluating the specific claims, which I note are concentrated on a 1994 pamphlet by the EPA, but the Surgeon General's report contains a massive volume of peer reviewed studies - not cherry picked - and concludes that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that a 20-30% increase in the likeliness of lung cancer among non smokers is attributable to second hand smoke (the evidence for other types of cancer was not strong enough to support such a conclusion). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK44330/

10 ( +10 / -0 )

There used to be a time when people had some sense of decency and respect for others...seems those days are never coming back!

Am I the only one who thinks apologizes are meaningless?!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Japanese live longer than every western nation, but smoke more. It is fact.

So you are inviting us to infer that smoking is good for you or something? Otherwise I'm having trouble discerning a point in that comment.

Japanese people eat a much healthier diet than people in most western nations and have extremely easy and cheap access to quality medical care. Perhaps that contributes more to their longevity than smoking?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

What discrimination is this thug talking about? If we want to talk about discrimination, how about marijuana smokers not being allowed to smoke even in the privacy of their own home.

I've said this before, but people can smoke tobacco all they like. Just do it away from non-smokers, and pay your own medical bills. Every idiot now knows the dangers - you clean up your own mess. I'd rather see doctors spend their time treating people who get ill through no fault of theirs.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

How exactly a non-smoker lung cancer patient supposed to lecture about danger of smoking?

As the article clearly says he is:

a lung cancer patient testifying about the dangers of secondhand smoke

So he was not lecturing, he was testifying, and he was not talking about smoking per se but the effects of second hand smoke, which he himself is suffering the consequences of.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Dango

Wow, didn't realize there are non-smoking nations!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

WOW!

A cancer sufferer testifying about the dangers of smoking, get's mocked by a lowlife representing LDP Inc.

Another hater of the common folks of Japan. Par for the course for this mob of politicians.

And Schopenhaeur - a few of the "American Brands" here, including the emblematic Camel, Salem & Winston brands are in fact made by Japan Tobacco.

But the brand name is neither here nor there, as the products all deliver the same dose of death.

Anami knows this.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Japanese live longer than every western nation, but smoke more. It is fact.

So please enlighten us, what point are you using this fact to make?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Kick this guy out, please. Enough of the tolerance of morons in this nation and government. The guy is not even apologizing for what he said, just apologizing for being "misunderstood" and "sorry if I caused concern", etc. I say "enough already!" indeed, do arses like this guy. Make him apologize directly, and formally, to the person he insulted and to the nation, or get rid of him.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

"I just murmured my feelings that smokers should not be discriminated against more than necessary," 

This guy is a disgusting and vile individual, no wonder he's an LDP member.

I go out of my way to discriminate smokers who casually smoke in public, especially in clearly signed no smoking areas. The look on their faces when you tell them they stink is priceless.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So please enlighten us, what point are you using this fact to make?

Exactly. I guess we can take it to mean that since Japanese people live a long time it's OK to mock folks with cancer. A natural segue Strangerland--we just have to be able to keep up.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Back in the early 90's, a professional waitress dying of cancer here made a presentation and the result was far more informative to a society to open up to second-hand smoke. It would help us put a human face on the issue and later to pass laws against smoking

For a diet member to so disgrace a cancer patient tells me just how far behind Japan remains

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I saw this in news this morning.

What a total MORON.

I really feel sorry for the cancer patient. He doesnt deserved futher sufferings from this kind of PIGS.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Heckling a cancer patient ?

The powerful picking on the weak?

Is that how Japanese society is to be portrayed?

However, breathing tobacco smoke, clearly a danger

cancer.gov in the US

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen (a cancer-causing agent)”

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Yoichi Anami is just another little LDP lout. His “apology” is as bad as his outburst. Quote:

"I just murmured my feelings that smokers should not be discriminated against more than necessary," he said in the statement on his website."

Never mind that he didn’t just “murmur.” He is claim that smokers might be “discriminated against more than necessary” show a muddled ipso facto defense of exposing others to secondary smoke when it is, well uh, duh, less than necessary.

Anami verbally attacked a lung cancer victim of secondary smoking. This victim of the tobacco industry is living proof that there is no such thing a discrimination against smokers who poison the air of other people. “Smokers’ rights” is a long dead tobacco industry slogan that got the backlash it deserved. It lingers in the private smoky haze of the LDP but is mostly kept out public view. Public smoking is a health hazard and smokers are like the plague.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Cigarettes in Japan are among the cheapest in the developed(?) world. Yeah sure, discrimination. True discrimination - people who want to buy fruit and veg but feel downtrodden when they see the prices in Japanese supermarkets.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

rainyday - well stated and supported.

Deniers of the dangers of 2nd hand smoke either have vested interests or are ignorant of up-to-date conclusive research ie it's now 2018.

How can the same smoke with the same carcinogens (and unfiltered as free smoke) pose no threat to health?

This is not even on the same page as for example climate change deniers. The evidence is right here, up-front in your face.

Denial just destroys a person's credibility.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

What a total POS. He should be fired.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

and yet, Japanese have a longer life span than most non-smoking nations. I dont know of any non-smoking nations, but I know of many that dont allow smokers to smoke around children and other non-smokers increasing their chances of smoking related illness, illness like Kazuo Hasegawa a non-smoker who will most probably die from. World life spans by sex Japanese men are almost the same as 9 other countries at 81yrs, only a couple months separate them, hardly earth shattering. Smokers in Japan like all 1st world countries are in a minority and decreasing every year, as soon as these old morons like Yoichi Anami die off the better off Japan will be. It all basically comes down to the rights of a minority over the rights of a majority and the fools in J gov that facilitate these undemocratic /unhealthy policies.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"I just murmured my feelings that smokers should not be discriminated against more than necessary," he said in the statement on his website."

What's next, LDP? Outrage that the rights of oyaji to flirt and fondle their female subordinates might be infringed too much by the passing of stricter sexual harassment laws?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

SumoBob wait for it..These people, and I use that term loosely are trapped in a world of money and adoration. Having not an idea what it takes to wake up go to work, take S*** go home again repeat. Mmmm this month I earned nearly ¥200, 000, and Get second hand smoke blowen into my face. Causing Cancer so that I can be mocked by overpaid dumb well paid idiot

6 ( +6 / -0 )

If 15,000 women and kids are dying each year from passive smoking here, then why allow smoking at all? Yet no one dies from marijuana but its deemed more dangerous! Go figure.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Pro smoking LDP lawmaker? Where was the Pro Drink driving LDP Lawmaker? I know the Pro Russian Roulette LDP Lawmaker was going to attend but his luck ran out.....

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Meanwhile, look on the bright side of life. Anti-Smoking is up. Once non-smoking cars were the exception. Now they are the rule. Smoking is banned on passenger jets. Once the smokers choked us in the non-smoking sections. Smoking is banned on many public streets. Remember the smoky old coffee shops with the bad expensive coffee, the loud TV, the dirty manga and the veils of smoke? Now you have Starbucks rolling the day. Restaurants in department stores have become increasingly smoke free.

I am waiting for Japan Tobacco to crash.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Foot in mouth time again already!!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Disillusioned...excellent comment! You really highlighted the reality out there!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Japanese live longer than every western nation, but smoke more. It is fact.

Is it? Do you consider Germany a western nation? Maybe not. Nicotine does

strange things not just to cause lung cancer but also to reduce cognitive functions.

France, Israel, Greece? No? Where do you get your "facts." From the back of a package of Lucky Strikes?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_tobacco_consumption

Honestly, you have no idea what you are writing about. Not uncommon when it comes to those that try to defend a public health poison, which is what smoking is.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Typical Politician of Present Ruling Party of Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Smoke all you want , but no smoke in my private space.

If I farted in your private space would you like it?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The Japanese government in a nutshell.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

How exactly a non-smoker lung cancer patient supposed to lecture about danger of smoking? because he most likely got it working in a smoking workplace which he had little say about, which was the direct result of smokers! Dont give me "dont like it leave BS argument" smokers are a minority their rights dont supersede the majority nonsmokers rights to a clean safe workplace, if they dont like it they can smoke outside which is exactly the reason many countries have adopted non-smoking policies.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

As expected from the LDP MP

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dango bongToday  09:31 am JST

"Number one cause of death in Japan for men is lung cancer. Your statement is stupid."

Japanese live longer than every western nation, but smoke more. It is fact.

So what? How many of those long-lived Japanese have great quality of life, without debilitating physical or mental health conditions, and don't need continual medical care to keep themselves alive?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Alex EinzToday 12:40 am JST

there are no conclusive studies linking second hand to cancer...none, zero...

Alex - Vast reams of research exist. Seek and ye shall find.

And paying a compliment to Amani - well that just confirms the nature of your post.

To borrow your expression - Pandering to people who hate others.

Smoking is finished.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nicotine does strange things not just to cause lung cancer but also to reduce cognitive functions.

I hate to be pedantic, but nicotine does none of these things, but rather it is all the other chemicals mixed up in the leaf that cause it. Nicotine on its own is relatively harmless when smoked.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What's the betting that Anami is returned at the next election with an even bigger majority than before?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Now how this person state that if he get a lung cancer is because of second hand smoke ? There are dozens of other risk factors but no he is 100% sure that is because of smokers. In fact in the US where smoking is banned almost everywhere since decades there are no cancer patients caused by second hand smoke. Yea of course.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Smokers who puff around others are just as bad as murderers if not worse

Oh my god. It's ridiculous comments like this that make things worse. No, smokers who puff around others are not just as bad as murderers, much less worse. Try to keep things at a reasonable level please. Hysteria helps nothing.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

there are no conclusive studies linking second hand to cancer...none, zero...

Well done to Anami for trying to stop this waste of time.

I much rather media and politicians concentrate on things that matter instead of pondering to people that hate seeing others enjoy.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

A sad state of affairs, but I am not surprised. The Japanese government, being heavily in debt, and always in need of revenue, depends much on what their one-third ownership of JT brings in.

I would support a total ban of smoking in all public places, large fines on those who defy the ban, and fines for those who throw cigarette butts on the ground (which has caused more than a few fires). I find smoking utterly offensive, like farting in a small elevator, and I get angry when people walk past me while smoking, as they step on signs which say smoking on sidewalks is prohibited.

However, I have read the studies about second-hand smoke and cancer, and the most rigorous studies find no link whatsoever. Surprisingly, many have found the opposite to be true, that those exposed to second-hand smoke are less likely to get cancer than people who are not. Below is a interesting quote from Michael Crichton, Harvard MD (and creator of "Jurassic Park").

"In 1993, the EPA announced that second-hand smoke was “responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults,” and that it “impairs the respiratory health of hundreds of thousands of people.” In a 1994 pamphlet the EPA said that the eleven studies it based its decision on were not by themselves conclusive, and that they collectively assigned second-hand smoke a risk factor of 1.19. (For reference, a risk factor below 3.0 is too small for action by the EPA. or for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine, for example.) Furthermore, since there was no statistical association at the 95% confidence limits, the EPA lowered the limit to 90%. They then classified second-hand smoke as a Group-A Carcinogen.

This was openly fraudulent science, but it formed the basis for bans on smoking in restaurants, offices, and airports. California banned public smoking in 1995. Soon, no claim was too extreme. By 1998, the Christian Science Monitor was saying that “Second-hand smoke is the nation’s third-leading preventable cause of death.” The American Cancer Society announced that 53,000 people died each year of second-hand smoke. The evidence for this claim is nonexistent."

I am all for banning smoking, and other acts which are disturbing or offensive to others, but bending the truth or lying outright in order to facilitate such bans is wrong.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

I am smoker too. And yes, already enough of this anti-smoking BS.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

Number one cause of death in Japan for men is lung cancer. Your statement is stupid.

Japanese live longer than every western nation, but smoke more. It is fact.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

How exactly a non-smoker lung cancer patient supposed to lecture about danger of smoking?

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

and yet, Japanese have a longer life span than most non-smoking nations.

-20 ( +6 / -26 )

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