Japan set to make Tokyo smoke-free for the 2020 Summer Olympics

February 1, 2017

As the host of the upcoming 2020 Summer Olympics, Japan is set on making the public places in its capital city of Tokyo smoke-free in accordance to International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules that call for a healthy games.

According to Japanese Health Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the government is eager to ban smoking in public by the time the capital hosts the Olympics as the IOC requires “tobacco-free” games. All recent host cities have passed legislation to ban smoking in indoor and enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars and cafes.

Japanese laws encourage restaurants and other public areas to limit exposure to secondhand smoke by setting up barriers or separate smoking and non-smoking areas, but there are no punishments for non-compliance.Smokers can even light up on the grounds of schools and hospitals.

“The situation for preventing passive smoking in Japan is on a level with that in a developing nation,” said Manabu Sakuta, chairman of the non-governmental organization Japan Society for Tobacco Control.

“We hope for improvement so there will not be lots of problems with passive smoking in all the parts of Tokyo that do not meet the Olympic standards, as well as the games venues after they are built.”

Shiozaki recently said his ministry aimed to submit a bill on preventing passive smoking during the current session of parliament.”According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Japan’s measures to prevent passive smoking are among the world’s worst,” he said.

But tightening up the rules faces strong opposition from restaurant management organizations, which fear the impact on their business.

Smoking rates have fallen in Japan due to greater health awareness and higher cigarette prices, health ministry data shows, and about 30% of men and 7.9% of women smoke.

Keisuke Kurimoto, a deputy director of the ministry’s Health Services Section, said it was too early to say what the contents of the proposed bill will be or if it would be ready before the current session ends, probably in June.

He said although they are using the Olympics as an opportunity and a goal to stamp out smoking in public areas, the health impact remains to be their top priority.

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