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Smoking in Japan: Is a Better Future Finally Here?
A new law concerning smoking inside will now shake Japan’s core.
Japan is one of the latest developed countries in the world to ban smoking inside. As of April 1st, smoking inside has now become forbidden. Until now? It was a whole other story.
Let’s rewind a bit.
Back in 1966, 83.7% of men in Japan smoked. In 2017, it was “only” 28%. The percentage has gone down but it is still a long way from the 13.8% found that same year in Australia.
But what is interesting is how the Japanese government worked towards reducing smoking.
In most other countries, the pattern has been to ban smoking inside first. Then, to increase the price of packs of cigarettes. Japan, instead, decided to ban smoking outside… in one specific situation: when walking.
Aruki-tobacco
The term 歩きたばこ (Cigarette while walking) is known by everybody in Japan. That was the focus for years. A few years back, you could smoke standing in a corner legally only to break the law the moment you would take a step. Talk about a strange law!
Little by little, areas across large cities started prohibiting smoking outside. They created designed smoking spaces instead…
