Well rarely hear that Japanese is not smoking...I smoke myself [ Yeah....know the it is bad ]...But I heard even alot of smoking Japanese...They tend to decrease it somehow...Latest I hear they have smoking van in da street

as far as I know you are definitely correct dude ... but not in bus, or in train ...

not to offend anyone.. but i really dun like cigarette smoke.. i can't stand it when my father smokes..

Fiery Nagano Gov. butts out smoking in prefectural facilities

NAGANO -- Nagano Gov. Yasuo Tanaka shocked reporters at a news conference announcing an immediate blanket ban on smoking in prefectural government facilities.
Altogether some 600 facilities, including all prefectural government schools, hospitals, offices and police stations will be smoke-free, with only a section of remand cells and interrogation rooms set aside for those who want to light up.

Non-smoking Tanaka defended his actions, which came while debate on a ban was still ongoing in the prefectural assembly, saying he wanted to create a society "free from harmful cigarettes."

He added that quashing the ban debate was acceptable because beneficial acts should be carried out as quickly as possible.

Prefectural assembly members who smoke have slammed the governor for acting too hastily.

Tanaka shut down smoking areas in the prefectural government offices immediately after announcing the ban on Tuesday afternoon. For the coming three months, a transition period will be in place where smoking will be permitted on the roof of the prefectural government office, but it will then also become a smoke-free area.

Train companies butt out smokers on Tokyo platforms
Smoking has been banned on all major private trains in Tokyo from May 1, according to an announcement on Monday.
Tobu Railway, Seibu Railway, Keisei Electric Railway, Keio Teito Electric Railway, Odakyu Electric Railway, and three other train companies have previously allowed passengers to puff away at designated areas on platforms.

But the eight operators have now decided to remove "smoking section" signs from some 730 stations.

People can smoke only in coffee shops and restaurants located at those stations, officials of the railway operators said.

They added that they made the landmark decision after anti-smoking passengers complained about the smoking areas on stations.

Japan's biggest train firm, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), will ban smoking at Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Nippori, Ochanomizu, Takadanobaba and Hamamatsucho stations on the Yamanote Line during morning rush hours from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. from May 1.

Passengers have already been banned from lighting up on all stations of the Teito Rapid Transit Authority and on platforms run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

arashinokoto wrote:

not to offend anyone.. but i really dun like cigarette smoke.. i can't stand it when my father smokes..

uh, yeah... you're not alone. I don't like the smell of the cigarette smoke too... (my brother smokes.) but... I don't think we should judge someone based on whether he or she smokes.

However, I must admit, it does change my first impression of someone.

v_ice

agree with arashinokoto .... I hate all people who smoked ...

thanks to god ... my family member are clean ....

my family doesnt smoke...everyone here cant stand the smell
i tried before(curiosity kills the cat)...erm..hate the taste..
but it tastes a little minty


some said smoking can release stress...
but after i took a few puff..i felt more stressful

http://jdorama.com/viewtopic_599.htm

TOKYO — Japan is planning to beef up restrictions on tobacco advertising by the end of the year in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control adopted in May.

But many antismoking groups wonder whether the measures will be really effective, given that the tobacco industry is good at finding loopholes and has cozy ties with the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the tobacco industry.

The WHO framework calls on signatory countries to ban or impose tough restrictions on tobacco advertising and print health warnings on all cigarette packs.

The government has already approved eight new warning labels directly addressing the risks of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. They also point out the dangers of premature births in smoking mothers.

Tobacco companies will be required to state two of the eight dangers and the warnings will be required to cover at least 30% of the pack and be visible on both sides.

This is a far cry from the current labeling that just says cigarettes can damage one's health and warns against excessive smoking.

The Ministry of Finance wants to enforce a revised ministerial ordinance as early as 2004.

The Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the finance minister, is now studying banning ads on radio, TV, the Internet, trains and buses. It is also looking into whether tobacco companies should be allowed to sponsor auto races and other events.

But critics say it is just a smokescreen.

"Tobacco companies are so clever that they are likely to take the teeth out of any stricter restrictions," said lawyer Yoshio Isayama who leads a group of lawyers fighting for the rights of nonsmokers.

The tobacco industry seems like it is voluntarily curbing TV commercials, but actually it is continuing to advertise by focusing on things like "improving smoking manners."

"It's a farce," Isayama said. "The council cannot discuss measures to protect people's health."

He pointed to the fact that tobacco industry heavyweights sit on the Fiscal System Council.

When it comes down to it, the Ministry of Finance does not want to tighten regulations because the industry gives cushy jobs to retired ministry bureaucrats, Isayama said.

Japan Tobacco Inc (JT) is taking a wait-and-see attitude, at least on the surface.

But with the business environment getting tougher following a cigarette tax hike in July and a factory closure, JT has been in touch with the Ministry of Finance behind the scenes to study how to cope with the situation. (Kyodo News)

brian_brian wrote:

agree with arashinokoto .... I hate all people who smoked ... thanks to god ... my family member are clean ....

I hate the smoking not the person. My dad used to smoke and my mom forced him to stop. I was so relieved that he did cuz with all the bad stuff on the news about cancer and other illneses and the money that was wasted buying cigarette my family might end up without a dad.
It had been about 7 years since he quit.

Yep to quit is possible ne Ren kun.... Try hard to quit but ne...No luck

i noticed that the japanese tend to smoke a lot...erm i'm a smoker too :/

stargirl wrote:

i noticed that the japanese tend to smoke a lot...erm i'm a smoker too :/

It's not just in Japan either... When the Japanese come to visit Hawaii, they're constantly smoking along the streets of Waikiki. And, from what my friends tell me they usually take the hotel rooms that allow smoking.

There was one stat I've read where Hawaii has the lowest number of smokers in the U.S. Our smoking laws are probably the most strict of all the states... You can't smoke in restaurants, period. If a bar makes most of its money serving food, smoking is banned there as well. You can't smoke in any state or local government facilities. At the same time, tourism has dropped quite a bit (the Japanese make up over 50-percent of the visitors coming to Hawaii). Most people blame it on 9/11... I think that the smoking laws here may have something to do with the drop as well.

I am sooooo anti-smoking, I even made my mom smoke outside of our home so that my beanie babies do not get saturated with all that second hand smoke.

--- groink

i used to...when i was 12 i was verry influencable,like all kids are and me and friends started smoking beoz then we were cool...now i hate it!!

valle wrote:

i used to...when i was 12 i was verry influencable,like all kids are and me and friends started smoking beoz then we were cool...now i hate it!!

at least you're not smoking now..

Ren wrote:

I hate the smoking not the person. My dad used to smoke and my mom forced him to stop. I was so relieved that he did cuz with all the bad stuff on the news about cancer and other illneses and the money that was wasted buying cigarette my family might end up without a dad. It had been about 7 years since he quit.

On the mark again, Ren.

When we were kids, we convinced my grandfather to stop smoking when he was in his late 50's... And he lived into his 90's...

I got this recently..

"If Kimutaku (Kimura Takuya) quits smoking, then I will, too." This is
the promoting phrase for a group focused on "No Butts". Representatives
from the Watanabe bunkaku conducted a survey and asked which celebrity will
have the most effect on encouraging the public to quit smoking. Results
show that Kimura Takuya ranked 1 followed by Akashike Sanma and Wada Akiko.
Number 4 goes to Beat Takeshi, 5th goes to Miyazaki Hayao, and 6th goes
to Matsu Takako. They also ranked the "Worst Smoker" for politicians and
talents. About 386 people through e-mails were involved in the survey and
ranking. Kimura commented that "the number of young women smoking would
decrease".
May 31st has officially become the "No Smoking Day".

I don't know he smokes too ne

arashinokoto wrote:

valle wrote: i used to...when i was 12 i was verry influencable,like all kids are and me and friends started smoking beoz then we were cool...now i hate it!! at least you're not smoking now..

well after i stopped i gained weight (>_<)

Yep hear dat befor an become one reason hard to quit...Gain weight ne Eat eat n eat