'Taspo' tobacco card introduced nationwide

Tuesday 01st July, 06:50 AM JST

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Hughgarse at 01:03 PM JST - 1st July

Just tried to use a machine about 10mins ago actually, and had some random person just swipe their card for me. brilliant plan guys.
haytkayokomiya at 01:14 PM JST - 1st July

Now there's money to be made of selling cigareetes to minors...
haytkayokomiya at 01:15 PM JST - 1st July

Mi scusi. Cigarettes.
williamsmith at 02:34 PM JST - 1st July

Tobacco is a horrible blight upon humanity. Tobacco smokers should be severely dealt with for their blatant disregard for public health and all that is good.
USNinJapan2 at 03:56 PM JST - 1st July

Hughgarse

Just a wild guess but you probably aren't a minor or don't look like one. I doubt your helpful Taspo Samaritan would have been as accommodating if you looked like you could be under 20...
Zen_Builder at 04:01 PM JST - 1st July

Agree with USNinJapan2.

Talking about age-check funniest one I ever had, was when I visited a club with an older friend in South Africa.

I got carded for looking like under 18, so I showed my ID which showed I was 25. Fun thing is everybody else said I looked older.

Ok, now I really look older than I am as my side-burns are gray even though I am still 40+. :P
hoserfella at 04:27 PM JST - 1st July

what a joke. There isn't a conbini employee/geek alive in this country who has the cajones to ask ID of even the most remotely thuggish-looking teen
wilbur at 06:07 PM JST - 1st July

how does 'tobacco passport' break down to 'taspo'? oh right, its japan
USNinJapan2 at 06:28 PM JST - 1st July

wilbur

'tobacco passport' in Japan is pronounced 'tabako pasupohto or タバコ　パスポート'. Key syllables of 'tabako pasupohto' (TAbako paSUPOhto) is shortened to TA-SU-PO/タスポ, or TASPO when converted back into the alphabet. Not much of a stretch in my opinion...
Nessie at 06:34 PM JST - 1st July

Do they accept dual tapaskonality, or do you have to choose when you're 18?
DXXJP at 09:50 PM JST - 1st July

This don't stop anything but a smoker from walking up to get a pack. I remember the night they went to 11pm stopping the machines. Didnt do a damn thing cause they went on at 6am and guess who is out on the streets at 6am. Guess what cocaine is illegal but yet it can be found pretty easy so whats going to stop kids from buying cigs.

Now if they would just outlaw booze its a horrible blight upon humanity.
zaichik at 07:24 AM JST - 2nd July

I wonder if it's a scam by health insurance companies to get a database of smokers.
zaichik at 07:27 AM JST - 2nd July

I wonder if it's a scam by health insurance companies to get a database of smokers.

Wouldn't have thought so, since the J-govt (J-fu?) is the primary insurer for the majority of Japanese residents and there's no actual insurance approval involved for treatment.

Do they accept dual tapaskonality, or do you have to choose when you're 18?

LOL!

It's a bit of a pain for short-term visitors to Japan - by the time you got your Taspo approved, you'd probably be leaving again.
oneearth at 03:01 PM JST - 2nd July

its ok lets go
lou3993 at 02:51 PM JST - 9th July

Introducing the Taspo was a load of wasted time and energy. If they really wanted to reduce smoking by minors they would of axed all vending machines (also reducing CO2 emissions)If minors linger round a vending machine long enough and a smoker will eventually lend the use of their Taspo. If they want to reduce the number of smokers then maybe they should look to introducing the smoking ban. because if a minor wants to smoke they will smoke.

All these silly regulations are turning into a complete joke. The whole point of the vending machines is for convenience but they dont work after 11 and now you have to make an application for a box of cigarettes.

Cutting combini business hours is even more ridiculus, maybe we should give up on this whole electricity lark completely, use candlelight, salt and bury our meat... But of course continue to use astronomical amounts of packaging, concrete and even the electric water sounds when going to the bathroom.