LDP lags behind other parties in anti-smoking campaign

By Naoya Sekino

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Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

Maff at 10:35 AM JST - 19th September

I've been a nicotine junkie for over 20 years because I find it absolutely impossible to give it up. But I'm still in favour of bans being imposed wherever they can be because they protect me from myself. If I can't smoke for certain hours of the day, I'll probably live a bit longer than I would have done otherwise. And these days you can buy nicotine gum at any drugstore (I always have a pack on me), so you can keep the cravings away for hours on end. You only have to chew the gum for a minute to get the nicotine into your system, and the buzz is very similar to having a smoke. You might still "fancy" a smoke during that time, but it's kind of like the way you might "fancy" a bar of chocolate. Your inability to smoke will not effect your concentration, mood, etc.
Schoolboyerror at 10:50 AM JST - 19th September

Altria will be writing out a 1m yen cheque to the LDP campaign posthaste.

You don't think they already nick enough off you in their parasitic taxes, which they then line their pockets with (or those of their local soaplands and golf clubs)?
jerseyboy at 11:21 AM JST - 19th September

Last sentence is the best..."a classic example of the bad, old LDP." Unfortunately, for us non-smokers, that "bad, old LDP" is likley to be become PM in the form of Aso. And with the government trillions of yen in the hole, they cannot afford to lose any tobacco tax revenues or their share of the profits of JT. And you have to love the line "how smoking may trigger SYMPTOMS of cancer". That must be conforting for the thousands of folks who die here every year of the symptoms of lung cancer, not actual cancer. What typical Japanese doublespeak. Will anyone in authority here ever be willing to say things as they really are on anything controversial?
fds at 11:32 AM JST - 19th September

actually, they should raise the taxes more. cigarettes in japan are one of the cheapest in the world.

as for non-smoking campains, i've always said let the business owner decide either smoking or non-smoking and let everyone else decide whether they want to work at or patronize that business.
DeepAir65 at 12:07 PM JST - 19th September

so if Aso gets in he will find it very difficult to meet with world leaders on their turf and they probably would not want to come to Japan if he is going to puff away in the meetings...
WaDisruptor at 09:39 PM JST - 19th September

"how smoking may trigger SYMPTOMS of cancer".

Yeah that line blew me away as well. Why not "Absolutely does cause cancer as well as a host of other fatal disease!!"? When I read that I was picturing all thess bored looking ji jis sitting there puffing away as the medical experts did their best to soft peddle the dangers of smoking.
cwhite at 10:58 PM JST - 19th September

reading the article reminds me of the last scene in "Animal Farm"
meanmutha at 11:45 PM JST - 19th September

The US went thru this in the 1960s and 70s. The Japanese really hit the tobacco during the war and since then got hooked. Jesus, the first day I landed here in 1997 smoke seemed to linger in the air everywhere and Tokyo has cleaned up a bit, but Kansai is hardcore heavy chainsmokers. When my son was born half the patients in the hospital were around 60 walking with and oxygen tanks and bear in mind the govt owns 80% of JT or Japan Tobacco, ironic JT.. so its about cash and these fellas who run the show at the top. I can always pick a heavy J smoker (Aso) out as they appear to be more dark n greasy and funky stink tar smell of course. The raspy voice too. My point... I think Japan is about 40 years behind in some issues, this one being a biggie. Second point. They are a stubborn people in nature and the right to smoke where pleased has to be broken.
lipscombe at 12:00 AM JST - 20th September

smokers stink, though they rarely realise just how bad themselves since they are in a constant cocoon of stench. any smokers even try to talk to me in public while they are puffing away get a very short 2 word reply.
BurakuminDes at 12:18 AM JST - 20th September

Theyre just promoting their governments product, like good Pollies should. Next time you go past a hospital in Japan, take a look around the rear outside, you will see doctors and nurses...and patients on drips with wheels no less... suckin down the fags, I kid you not. Hopeless junkies, all.
meanmutha at 12:34 AM JST - 20th September

adding... Its a prop, the fag. Driving the car, on a bike, with your coworkers after spending 12 hrs with them, feeling insecure & nervous around the meanmutha on the platform, it seems to just hang outta dudes mouths (yes cowboy style, you know guys) And its a great break 20-30 times a day for the hardest working in the world Japanese at work. Kinda wonder if they banned smoking, keiteis and make up for 48 hrs. Now theres a story... I can here Van Halen's.. Jump
realist at 05:20 PM JST - 21st September
1. Most of the LDP lawmakers/government ministers are smokers
2. JT is owned by the J Government, therefore there is no way they are going to bring in a ban on smoking.
The general population can have their lungs rotted and cancerized by tobacco and tens of thousands of people can die each year from lung cancer - and the current J Government does, as usual, NOTHING. What losers!
stanoue at 09:48 PM JST - 21st September

And it could be so easy to make an impact straight away 1) double the price of cigarettes 2) ban all smoking in indoor/public places 3) import those sick cancer ads and photos of mouth disease on the ciggie packets in Au/NZ
Notginger at 09:22 PM JST - 22nd September

As many of the LDP big hitters are smokers, let's hope the old dinosaurs all get lung cancer and clear the way for some more human, less corrupt politicians (kind of an oxymoron, I know, but this bunch have got to be the worst group of cronies ever).
usaexpat at 12:05 AM JST - 25th September

Ah yes, smoking is certainly the biggest problem facing Japan. Let's not worry about the economy or international relations or the pension scandal. What really matters is banning smoking or at least throwing lots of money at "smoking education" because you know it's bad for you. Look I'm a smoker, I know the health risks and I try to be polite by not smoking around non-smokers. Sorry for the rant but again this is a non-issue except to crusaders, there are far bigger problems that the LDP needs to address.