We wish to prevent unwanted passive smoking and protect the health of customers and some 100,000 employees.

Finally! Hope Seizeriya and Denny's and everyone else follows suit!

Awesome news. The tide is turning.

One small step towards a clean country.

Yeah, and they'll instead put a standing ashtray outside the entrance of the place. I guess it's a step in the right direction, but they need to completely ban it from the property, and Japan needs to institute enforceable punishments for those that fail to follow laws. it should be like in other civilised countries -- a $5000 fine or so for smoking in non-smoking areas. In Japan you can take a photo of a no-smoking sign on the street and there is a 95% chance in the photo you'll see someone smoking under it (or on it if it is a sidewalk sign).