Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

WHO honors Shizuoka boy ostracized over anti-smoking campaign

National May. 31, 2008 - 08:22AM JST ( 24 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

24 Comments

0

blvtzpkMay. 31, 2008 - 07:20AM JST

The little nail's victory!
0

some14someMay. 31, 2008 - 07:47AM JST

Disgrace for Tobacco Industries in general and JT in particular. Well done little boy !
0

BettingMay. 31, 2008 - 08:56AM JST

Not disgrace for tobacco industries or JT I think, but his community is a complete disgrace to humanity. For his community to do that to him really shows a lack of intelligence, and how childish they are.
0

GWMay. 31, 2008 - 09:42AM JST

Way to go Ohishi-san!!

To the people who opposed him, may you rot in hell, I never heard anything about this kid & his campaign until today, anybody else ever hear anything or was he one of those news worthy stories that never makes it(ie censored).

Again way to go, his parents must be very very proud of this young man!!
0

timorborderMay. 31, 2008 - 10:23AM JST

Hope he also gets recognized by the Japanese government. Then again, given the tax revenues involved (cough), I wouldn't hold my breath. Good on ya kid.
0

AlphaapeMay. 31, 2008 - 12:40PM JST

Good for this kid, I hope that in the future he becomes a leader in Japan. Hopefully, his family will not recieve too much ostracism from his surrounding community and he gets black listed from all of the right schools. This kid has shown more gumption than the average salary-man here or in most countries for that matter.
0

taiko666May. 31, 2008 - 12:46PM JST

Isn't a little strange that in Japan, smoking is often banned in the open air, but perfectly legal in small, enclosed restaurants and bars? In many places you can't step outside a bar to have a considerate smoke in the street because that would be illegal!

Nevertheless, I hope this resourceful kid continues his campaign and that Japan eventually catches up with with other developed countries in stopping people slowly killing the people around them in order to get a nicotine fix.
0

yasaxikooMay. 31, 2008 - 12:51PM JST

send him to my place!ya know somewhere in US,people are not allowed to smoke though they can go to street with their gun!Is there something to do with private rights!
0

shugotokumaruMay. 31, 2008 - 12:57PM JST

I don't see the government recognizing him, at least not the part of it that owns a majority share in JT.
0

netrekMay. 31, 2008 - 01:33PM JST

He should sue the tobacco companies and everyone in his town who smokes with assault. There is a ticking legal timebomb. If the developed nations ever allow class actions lawsuits by innocent victims of second hand smoke it could destroy the entire industry overnight. But the damn politicians will make sure that doesn't happen. No one has a "right" to assault someone with their cancer causing smoke. They know it is harmful, the producers know it is harmful, the governments know it is harmful yet it legal? Smoke is a type of poison and should be illegal.
0

HimajinMay. 31, 2008 - 01:45PM JST

taiko666, smoking in the streets began to be banned after a little girl was burned on one eye (and lost the sight in it I think) because a smoker's hand swung into her face while walking.
0

WMDMay. 31, 2008 - 03:07PM JST

15 year old kid ostracized because he is anti-cancer stick. That figures in this deeply entrenched cancer society. I respect the kid very much for going up against so much oppostion from the cancer people. There's hope for this country yet,maybe.
0

smithinjapanMay. 31, 2008 - 03:17PM JST

Well done, kid.
0

caponeMay. 31, 2008 - 03:50PM JST

wow the little nail wins...good job
0

northlondonMay. 31, 2008 - 05:09PM JST

If secondhand cigarette smoke is damaging peoples health, and we all know that it does damage innocent peoples health, then why is it allowed outside, in restaurants etc ? Oh that's right, super-powerful corporations like Japan Tobacco are allowed to restrict legislation through their political lobbying. Sorry for the political rant, but this is a subject that has riled me for a long, long time.

I'd like to know some more information on exactly how this community ostracized the kid.
0

himasanMay. 31, 2008 - 08:41PM JST

Sue the tobacco companies for getting you sick from second hand smoke? While you`re at it sue the car companies for making cars that destroy the ozone layer and gave you skin cancer, and dont forget the phone companies that build huge radio towers that give you brain tumors. I could go on all day.
0

romulus3May. 31, 2008 - 09:32PM JST

well when the government owns most of the stock in Japan Tobacco, what do you expect? Anyway, this kid is a puppet. Someone else is pulling the strings. Rather than have a go at smokers I would rather ask why it is ok for people to use a 10 year old boy to push their political agenda, even if it is for a good cause. Hiding behind a 10 year old is much worse than smoking in the street. However, I agree with the policy, just not the political engine.
0

Wottock_HuntMay. 31, 2008 - 11:21PM JST

Good work, little man. I'm not going to hold out much hope of you getting any recognition from the Japanese government, but you have nothing but a two-thumbs-up salute from the Hunt household.
0

jpdrag0nJun. 01, 2008 - 01:24AM JST

its good that he got the prefectural gov't to ban smoking on the streets but after living here for half a year, i can tell you that 75% of the people disregard these sorts of bans. i'm pretty sure its banned to smoke on the streets in tokyo (or is it just a "keep the streets clean from litter campaign?)...anyways theres signs everywhere telling people not to smoke while walking and to go to the designated smoking areas. but on a weekend night, its a crazy free for all...come to think of it...even on the weekdays
0

OhioDonnaJun. 01, 2008 - 05:26AM JST

Good for him. Here in the US smoking is still permitted on most city streets. It is is big no-no in buildings. I wish is was banned on the streets. Contrary to popular opinion it is against the law to carry guns without a permit.
0

DenshaDeGOJun. 01, 2008 - 08:39AM JST

Yuhta Ohishi was ostracized by his community when he started his campaign at the age of 10 after developing severe asthma from secondhand smoke in his neighborhood in Shizouka city.

Is there any wonder why suicide is so prevalent here? Imagine your entire TOWN ignoring you. Only in Japan.

The eternally altruistic Japanese government currently has a 50% stake in Japan Tobacco. It is no surprise that they're trying to get everyone (including kids) smoking
0

YoudontknowJun. 01, 2008 - 01:45PM JST

taiko666:

Isn't a little strange that in Japan, smoking is often banned in the open air, but perfectly legal in small, enclosed restaurants and bars? In many places you can't step outside a bar to have a considerate smoke in the street because that would be illegal!

I don't know what part of Japan you live in, but smoking outside is not banned anywhere in Japan!! Where do you get your information from? I've been here nine years and never heard once that smoking in the street was illegal!
0

buddha4brainsJun. 01, 2008 - 02:04PM JST

Youdontknow, in Osaka you can get fined for smoking on the street in the downtown areas.

romulus3, who are you to decide someone is a "puppet"? And which political machine is controlling the boy? Maybe its the Japanese Asthma Association? Or the Japanese Lung Association? You don't know, but still you see a conspiracy - in an issue you agree with no less.
0

TeruSenseiJun. 02, 2008 - 04:56PM JST

There are parts of the street in Nagoya that clearly have "NON SMOKING ZONE" labelled on them. Cross the road out of the zone, and it's alright.

But at least they have some smoke free zones set up. It's a start.