Adventurasia Community

In 1995 there were 95,000 tobacco related deaths; 12% of total deaths for the year. And in 2000 Japan saw the sale of 336 billion cigarettes per year at a cost 4 trillion yen(US$ 33 billion in costs and smoking related accidents. But this may change soon, the Ministry of Health has taken notice, and for the first time ever, set a numerical goal to reduce the number of smokers in Japan by half by the year 2010. This may seem somewhat strange to the American public, where the smoking culture has been under siege for over 30 years.

These measures seen in America have been instigated by the government, health advocates, and non-smoking groups. The government, for examples levies high taxes on tobacco products, and funds anti-smoking campaigns. Tobacco companies have been successfully sued, and almost all offices are smoke free. California has taken even more extreme measures by making all restaurants and bars smoke free as well. It is generally understood that Japan is 30 years behind America when it comes to dealing with smoking as a health issue. There are a number of reasons why Japan is lagging behind America in regard to anti-smoking measures. Perhaps, first and foremost was the formerly laissez-faire attitude of the Japanese government. This makes more sense when you consider the fact that from 1904 until 1985 all stages of tobacco processing and sales were under government control. This fact reflects a conflict of interests between tobacco production and health promotion, which culminates in a lax health policy in regard to tobacco use. Note the mild warning label found on cigarette packets: “As there is a risk that it might damage your health, try not to smoke too much. And be sure to observe smoker’s etiquette. ” Smoking commercials have only been banned since 1998. Even now the Finance Ministry holds a majority(60%) stake in Japan Tobacco Inc., which has a virtual monopoly on the industry, despite the removal of foreign tariffs in 1987. Furthermore, the government expects to receive 896 billion yen (US$ 7.5 billion) for cigarette taxes in the year ending March 31. Unsurprisingly, Japan Tobacco Inc. has protested the numerical targets.

Despite these large numbers, it is important to note that Japan’s high rate of tobacco consumption is a relatively new development. Tobacco was introduced through trade sometime during the Edo period. Consumption, historically, was never much of a problem until relatively recently. Consider this, in 1945 the per person of consumption was only 310 cigarettes. But that figure rose to 3,499 by 1977. As a result a large generation of smokers failed to witness the devastating affects of smoking first hand from relatives and acquaintances who were lifetime smokers. With no negative role models to frighten smokers of the potential physical damages caused by smoking the rates of consumption have remained high. There are other societal factors, which may have influenced the permissive attitude to smoking seen in Japan.

Japan is known as a high stress country; therefore smoking can be seen a release and a method of control. Students go through a series of exams to enter prestigious high schools that will prepare them to pass entrance examinations to enter the elite universities, which will determine their fate in life. Once at a company they must rise up through the ranks, starting out as overworked and underpaid. In addition the work ethic of Japan is famous, it is the only country that has a word for death by overwork, karoshi. Furthermore, everyday commuters ride jam-packed trains to and from work, and jostle with crowds to shop, eat, or see a movie. Added to the mix is a culture that has rigid social expectations, there is pressure to conform and persevere: “The nail that stands out is hammered down “. Smoking could be one way of having control over something in life.

Another Japanese societal tradition, reflected in harmony of the group may be a factor in a confrontation with the “smoking consensus. ” This may be a reason why co-workers are afraid to confront the issue of smoking in the office, even though many office workers smoke at their desks. To do so would disrupt the unity of the group by bringing up unpleasant resentment. So the Japanese tradition of ganbaru, dictates that the non-smokers must grin and bear it. The issue of smoking at a Japanese advertising firm was never addressed until Tony Robillard, a Canadian national and non-smoker, who recently joined the firm gathered support from the other non-smokers and brought up the issue at a meeting. On the spot, the office manager declared it a non-smoking office except for his singly enclosed office. Robillard said that he was merely trying to open a discussion about the issue. The office is still grappling with the issue. At first, the smokers were smoking on the fire escape, but were getting locked out of the office, and have resorted to using a meeting room as a smoke room. Robillard has noted that consumption has gone down, since his co-workers no longer have the option of lighting up at their desks. Had Robillard not broached the issue the of smoking, the environment most likely wouldn’t have changed. On a larger scale, there have been few consumer challenges against the forces that be within the tobacco industry.

Despite the absence of a legal history challenging the tobacco industry, a “cigarette sickness suit ” was filed against Japan Tobacco Inc. and the Ministry of Finance. The claimants want a 10 million yen token payment in lieu of 100 million total to each person for suffering from lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and lung emphysema. The basis of the suit is that the government and Japan’s most powerful tobacco company deliberately held back information proving the toxicity of cigarettes. The case is still pending. Some groups think that an increase in consumption tax may deter current smokers, but the key may be preventative measures. Thus, the biggest challenge for the Ministry of Health may be how to stop people from starting to smoke.

The reasons why people start smoking are as diverse as the people themselves. The most common reason for smoking in Japan can be seen in Koga Maki’s a 25 year old Tokyo office worker who started smoking because of peer pressure at high school, “All of my friends started smoking in high school, so I tried it. ” The official age for smoking and drinking in Japan is 20. But vending machines make it very easy for minors to obtain cigarettes that would be denied them at the connivance stores. Gonda Yoshinori, 23 year old Tokyo medical student, started earlier than most in junior high school, but quit when he became serious about swimming in high school only to return to smoking once he started hanging out with smokers at medical school. And 24 would seem like a late time to start smoking, but that is when Rumi, a flight attendant from Yamanishi prefecture now 26, began smoking, because all of her co-workers did. Then there’s the case of Yoshida Keigo, also 26, who started smoking to relieve the boredom of waiting between turns during long matches of the board game, Mah Jong, with friends. Whatever the reasons for smoking, the Ministry of Health has a tough road ahead of them to prevent more smokers from lighting up.

In order for the drastic cut in smokers to occur, many systematic changes must take place in Japan. Change is never swift nor easy in Japan, but the Ministry of education has taken the first step by publicly admitting that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. The future will show whether or not the Japanese government can be successful in curbing a national health problem it helped create. The smokers paradise that Japan has become is now under threat, but perhaps for the good of the nation as a whole.