Kicking the habit: Japan struggles to wean itself off smoking ahead of Olympics

Japan is moving to pass its strictest ever smoking laws, but the country’s powerful tobacco lobby wants to stub out measures that were adopted years ago by other developed nations.

The government is keen to change Japan’s image as a puffing paradise – smoking is still allowed in most bars, restaurants and cafes – as Tokyo gets set to host millions of visitors for the 2020 Olympics.

The health ministry is to submit a proposed law to parliament by June that would ban smoking in many restaurants, as well as public facilities. If approved, rule-breakers would face a penalty of 300,000 yen (US$2,600).

But the proposals, unveiled last week, have already been watered down from an initial push for a broad ban on indoor smoking, which ran up against strong opposition from former state monopoly Japan Tobacco (JT) and many small business owners, who fear they’ll lose customers.

Establishments can build a separate smoking room under the latest proposal.

And places with less than 30 square metres of floor space would not be affected by the restrictions at all – excluding a huge number of establishments in space-challenged Japan.

“It would be better if it’s completely banned” in restaurants, Kumiko Tanaka, a 27-year-old non-smoker, told AFP. “But I don’t mind as long as smoking areas are strictly separated.”