Possible Smoking Ban in Kanagawa Prefecture

Looks like Kanagawa Prefecture could possibly getting a regional smoking ban as of March next year similar to bans in other countries according to this article.

The ban, if enabled would ban smoking 100% in bars, restaurants, amusement venues, schools, hospitals and department stores which I think would be just simply incredible especially for Japan!

Kazuko Hara who drafted the bill had this to say, "Smoking bans are a global trend. This is also part of our campaign to reduce the risks from passive smoking, which may cause lung and other cancers among non-smokers."

Well done! Fingers crossed!

(I wonder if this ban would include pachinko parlours?)

The article also has some interesting stats on the amount of smokers in Japan. Apparently the percent of Japanese people who smoke is now down to 26 percent. Not bad!

A search for comparisons found that 15 percent of Australians smoke.

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

SmokeFreeJapan.com's Future

Was just going through my site's stats via our Reader Community (JOIN NOW!) and have noticed a steady increase in readership lately. What particularily thrilled me was SmokeFreeJapan.com being used as a reference in this post on SeekJapan! I was very surprised but also happy that people are finding the site useful.

I currently have several new reviews lined up that you can expect in to be posted in the next few days or so but I'm also curious as to what you, the reader would like to see on SmokeFreeJapan.com.

Besides "more reviews" are there any other features you would like to see? Would anyone buy "Smoke Free Japan" t-shirts if they were made? How about a badge or two?

Something I was planning to start next year are special "Smoke Free Parties" held every month or so. These would range from Smoke Free karaoke nights (who doesn't long for those!) to special parties in smoke free clubs.

None of this will happen without your support so please, post a comment (or two) below.

It's time for a healthier social life in Tokyo and with New Years just around the corner, now's a good a time as any to start!

Tokyo Taxis to be Smoke Free!

This has to be the best news I've heard all year regarding smoking in Japan. Starting in January next year, most of Tokyo's taxis will be smoke free!

From JapanToday "An association of taxi operators in Tokyo has effectively decided to make its members' taxi cabs nonsmoking, association officials said Thursday. The measure will possibly come into effect in January after official approval is gained at the group's extraordinary board meeting on Friday, they said.


Among 436 Tokyo taxi operators, 389 are affiliated with the association, which covers some 36,000 taxi cabs, or more than 90% of them. The association will seek cooperation from its counterpart for owner-driven taxis, they added. A complete nonsmoking policy has already been introduced in Nagoya and its vicinity as well as in Kanagawa Prefecture."

While I always take taxis with people who won't smoke in them, we're still exposed to the smoke from the passenger before us or even the driver.

I'm not sure about the specifics but it's definitely a good sign and I look forward to seeing how this develops and if other taxi companies follow suit.

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.

Yamanote Line Platforms to be Smoke Free... Kind of

I was riding the Yamanote line yesterday and saw a very nice ad on the train's video screen about how, starting next month all the trains platforms on the line will be smoke free... kind of.

Right now they have "Smoking Zones" on each platform with two times of the day marked as "No Smoking". These zones are ineffective as, as everyone knows, train platforms are outside and there's a little thing called wind outside.

I can't tell you my constant frustration every morning on my way to work at Takadanobaba station, standing 100 metres downwind from the "Smoking Zone" and still getting the full blast of the smokers. Shibuya station is more of a joke with the "Smoking Zone" being right behind the main stairs leading to the massive Hachiko exit.

Luckily, JR has decided, in 2007 to install large fish-tanks for smokers to stand in so their smoke won't annoy other passengers. The fish-tanks will have air vacuums to vent the smoke out of the fish-tanks. I swear to God though, if it's vented onto the platform I think my head will implode.

According to this report the largest named group of complaints given to the JR company from passengers concerns smokers. Whether these complaints were about the ineffective "Smoking Zones" or about people smoking in non smoking parts of the platform is unknown. It stands to reason though that these fish-tanks are a response to public pressure to offer a healthier travel service.

Now if only JR would place an occupancy limit on their carriages.

Like this site? Subscribe to my site feed or email newsletter to get our updates as soon as they're online.