Japan is certainly not the smokers paradise it once was, with restrictions of some sort or another now found in most restaurants and many public places, along with some cities even going as far as banning smoking in the street. A change in attitude that may well account for the number of smokers in Japan recently dropping to an all-time low of around 26% of the adult population.
Yet while this number may well continue to fall, it’s still a formidable amount of people, and as such, they are well looked after by the local authorities. For starters, there are several places for a ciggie sojourn, ranging from the supposedly stylish,
And, with the government still owning a substantial share of Japan Tobacco, it’s still manners, more than anything, that really matter.
Justin says
Haha.
And yet another example of well-mannered Japanese smoking:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lowfive/637101288/in/set-72157600322014146/
Adam says
Hey man, I love reading your site. Consistently hilarious. Not to ask a magician to divulge his secrets, but when you’re writing a story, do you start with the punchline first? Because you always have a punchline. Or do you start writing about something that’s struck your fancy and then look for a way to end it? I’m curious because your site has a consistency of style in the writing that’s largely absent in the world wide interblogs.
Thanks for the good reading!
Shochu Rokku says
Re your comment that the Japanese govt owns a substantial share of Japan Tobacco (JT), I once read, in an admittedly unreliable source, that the Japanese constitution requires the Japanese government to maintain a certain level of ownership of JT and to promote the use of tobacco.
Anyone know anything about this?
Lee says
Adam: Thanks a lot for the kind words. Very generous of you.
Now and again I do have a punchline (or at least an ending) in mind, but more often than not I start off with a rough idea and then desperately try and find a way to finish it.
I do purposely try to keep the style consistent, as for starters it gives me a template of sorts to work with, and at the same time it hopefully gives the site a distinctive feel.
Glad you like it!
Shochu Rokku: I’ve never heard that, and like you say it sounds doubtful, but it’s an interesting story/rumour.
Ronnie says
Hey, I took that picture 🙂 I’m glad you liked it enough to use! I never noticed, but I can actually see myself in the reflection hah.
www.japanhotties.com says
dam they love to smoke! nothing like a good smoke in the morning to secure our deaths!