Kanagawa governor to propose public smoking ban ordinance

Saturday 07th February, 06:46 AM JST

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pizzaboy at 12:21 AM JST - 8th February

moonbeams: If you don't like me smoking in front of you, tough, choose another route.
realist at 12:52 AM JST - 8th February

More good news from Japan today. Another hero - who is also a politician! Whats happening to Japan? Maybe there is hope, after all! Japan wioll eventually follow the rest of the civilised world and ban smoking in all oublic places. Doutor Coffee Shops will be among the last to resist the ban . . .but I steer clear of them anyway - I dont want lung cancer.
Disillusioned at 12:52 AM JST - 8th February

This is gonna really peeve the 30% of adult smokers, but it is a step in the right direction for Japan, so bloody good'em! However, my concern is, will this be like the back seat belt and bicycle helmet law or will someone actually enforce it? Somehow, I can't see a 5 foot nothing, little old lady in a $50 uniform giving a JP B/man a ¥2,000 fine for smoking on the street. I also see another opportunity for the stand over men to slip in to get cuts on their smoking bans in their pubs. Where I come from you cant smoke anywhere. There was a related situation in Australia recently where the total indoor smoking ban in all pubs had forced a lot of the larger pub owners to build outdoor smoking areas. Most pubs put up sails, awnings decks and the like. However, the anti-smoking lobby came up and said they were breaking the law because the people were smoking in an enclosed area. The legislation was adjusted and so were the outdoor smoking areas. I doubt if this kind of thing would ever happen in Japan. This new ban will be just a paper ban and you'll have all the neighborhood busybodies calling the cops every ten minutes cos someone is having a ciggy out the front of Maruetsu. Gawd help us all!
UnagiDon at 12:55 AM JST - 8th February

Great, now make it national!
AEROCASTER at 02:07 AM JST - 8th February

Fantastic. Japanese won't believe how much they're going to like this once it happens - if it happens.

I've seen this debate play out in two Canadian cities, with strong opposition from businesses who worry it will negatively impact them. But in the end there is very little effect - the very few customers they potentially lose are often replaced with others they didn't know they had. The net effect is a substantially nicer atmosphere for everyone, some smokers start to smoke less or simply quit, and everyone makes the change.

Next step might be to tax tobacco more heavily. A package of cigarettes in Canada cost nearly ¥1000. It's a terribly unhealthy, dirty addiction and should probably be strongly discouraged.

Good luck Kanagawa!
shouganaika at 02:30 AM JST - 8th February

do it
shouganaika at 02:37 AM JST - 8th February

I admire those totally free of vices of any kind. Unfortunately I have only read of one--In the Bible

go tell it on the mountain Isaac
northlondon at 03:08 AM JST - 8th February

How about making it illegal for rude Japanese idiots to smoke next to your food, unless he or she asks your permission first (and you say ok) ? Nothing winds me up more than an idiot who sparks up right next to me when I'm eating. Isn't it illegal for establishments serving food to allow tobacco smoke all over people who do not smoke and who are eating at the time ?
UnagiDon at 04:07 AM JST - 8th February

How about making it illegal for rude Japanese idiots to smoke next to your food,

Sounds good, as long as it applies to non-Japanese too...
northlondon at 04:26 AM JST - 8th February

as long as it applies to non-Japanese too...

The funny thing is, that in my 9 plus years in Japan, I have never ever experienced any non-Japanese people smoking over my food. Loads and loads of Japanese people have though.
Smythe at 05:36 AM JST - 8th February

The folly of this is the hard feelings by the smokers (no I have never smoked in my life & only through smokers & their 2nd hand tobacco smoke have I had continual headaches till no smoking in buildings has such daily headaches halted--yes suffered for 65 yrs)STILL think of the cost of so called proper ventilations to thw owners to also think of what happens when the Govt totally bans the business that meet the demands of said ventilation FOR it has hit a few small drinking places in Canada.

Obviously I injoy the fact that I can go into most buildings or businesses & not have to suffer through smokers, but this is hard to smokers to accept along with busineees. BUT check with the Province of B.C. Canada & note it has payed off.

Now the Province of B.C. is trying to ban smokers hanging outside at the back sucking on a fag, for that is the 2nd hand to also third hand tobacco smoke. Only way to avoid such smokers is walk W-A-Y around them at present time.
Sarge at 10:03 AM JST - 8th February

"if you don't like me smoking in front of you, tough, choose another route"

What good would that do, thoughtless nicotine addicts are everywhere except Starbucks. And why should non-smokers have to get out of the way of nicotine addicts? Why should the nicotine addicts have priority?
borscht at 10:30 AM JST - 8th February

The funny thing is, that in my 9 plus years in Japan, I have never ever experienced any non-Japanese people smoking over my food. Loads and loads of Japanese people have though

That's because non-Japanese don't see the invisible wall between themselves and 'others.' It's a unique Japanese talent.

"if you don't like me smoking in front of you, tough, choose another route"

Maybe we should have smoking routes and non-smoking routes. In addition, maybe we could have jerk routes and non-jerk routes. Personally, I'd like a route free from parked bicycles.
kirakira25 at 05:27 PM JST - 12th February

Sounds good as long as it is enforced. I have just come in from the local park in Chuo Ku - where there is a ban on walking along smoking - and watched many many guys (no women) in the space of half an hour walking through the park, ciggies alight, all held at face height for the many kids running around playing. One guy stood in front of the sign telling you not to smoke and lit up, and another dropped his half-finished butt on the floor and walked off - in a kids playground for Gods sake!

What IS the point? I see it all the time in Chuo city and I have never seen or heard of anyone being stopped or fined for it.
kirakira25 at 05:28 PM JST - 12th February

When I say "no women" by the way - I mean I didnt see any - not that they dont do it (before anyone starts attacking me)