Japan: Chiyoda Ward Increases Financial Support for Indoor Smoking Areas

Source from:  Mainichi Daily News (jp) 02/02/2015

Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, where smoking outside on the street is banned, has begun introducing measures to increase the financial support offered for indoor smoking areas -- with the first such location opening on Jan. 19.

The ward revised its ordinance on the local living environment in 2002, whereby a fine of 2,000 yen would be imposed upon those found to be smoking while walking outdoors within Chiyoda Ward's borders. The unprecedented initiative was subsequently expanded to include penalties for anyone caught smoking outside on the street.

One consequence of the move, however, was the problem of more and more people smoking in locations other than streets -- inside parks, for example. As a result, the decision was made to expand a program offering subsidies for indoor smoking stations, which was passed in 2009.

Specifically speaking, the ward aimed to encourage the construction of such areas by increasing the level of financial assistance from 50 to 100 percent of initial costs, and from 33 to 80 percent for operation and maintenance fees.

The first smoking area in Chiyoda Ward to utilize the expanded assistance program is located on the first floor of a building in Kaji-cho, near JR Kanda station.

Satoshi Ohira, 31, who manages the smoking station, says that he formerly operated an onigiri (rice ball) stand in the same location -- and that his day used to begin with picking up cigarette butts that had been strewn about by people smoking in front of the shop.

"It occurred to me that if I began operating a smoking area when I closed down my onigiri shop, it would help contribute to the beautification of the area," he recalls thinking when he saw people smoking in a secluded corner of a nearby parking lot. "And I was confident that I would be successful because of the financial assistance that was being offered."

Ohira says that between the smoking station subsidies and the revenues that he collects from the vending machines that he additionally operates, he expects to be able to turn a profit.

Suit-clad men file in and out of the 10-square-meter smoking space all day long between its operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., without a pause in traffic. On Jan. 20, there were a total of some 160 visitors.

A 61-year-old male resident of the Akihabara district in Chiyoda Ward who had stopped by for a smoke commented, "The number of available smoking locations has continued decreasing every year, which was getting very inconvenient."

Chiyoda Ward officials say that they plan to introduce around five new smoking areas each year.

Mayor Masami Ishikawa noted, "I hope to have achieved a separation between smoking and non-smoking areas throughout the entire ward by the time of the 2020 Summer Olympics."

He added, "My goal is to create a distinctive town." Enditem