TOKYO • Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will push for a law banning smoking in public places, to make the Japanese capital smoke-free ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, defying national politicians who recently failed to pass a similar law..
TOKYO • Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will push for a law banning smoking in public places, to make the Japanese capital smoke-free ahead of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, defying national politicians who recently failed to pass a similar law.
Tokyo risks being one of the unhealthiest cities to host the Olympics and Paralympics in years, but efforts for a national ban died in the face of opposition from pro-smoking politicians, many in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling party.
Opponents also included restaurateurs and Japan Tobacco, which is one-third government-owned and paid the state US$700 million (S$968 million) in dividends in 2015.
Although passive smoking kills thousands of Japanese each year, the Health Ministry’s watered- down proposal – which would have allowed indoor smoking in smaller establishments with adequate ventilation – could not make it to a vote in Parliament this spring.
Ms Koike, her hand strengthened by a sweeping victory over Mr Abe’s party in weekend local elections, told the Nikkei Shimbun daily that a law banning indoor smoking could be submitted to the assembly – where her party, Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First) , and its allies now have a strong majority – for a vote before the year end.
