Tokyo assembly oks tougher smoking restrictions than State's
Jiji -- Jun 28
The Tokyo metropolitan assembly voted Wednesday to introduce tougher smoking restrictions in the Japanese capital than currently discussed in the Diet, the country's parliament.

The original rules, including a basic smoking ban in restaurants regardless of how large they are, will be put into force in stages before fully taking effect in April 2020, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics of that year.

An ordinance for the prevention of secondhand smoking, including unique restrictions, was approved by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the metropolitan assembly, although the Liberal Democratic Party opposed it.

"We aim for a Tokyo where both smokers and nonsmokers feel comfortable," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters after the assembly meeting. "Taking (the passage of) the metropolitan ordinance as a cue, we'll promote a 'health first' metropolitan administration," she said.

In Tokyo, smoking will be prohibited in all establishments serving food or drink that have hired staff, except in specially designated smoking rooms. The only exception will be restaurants and bars run entirely by family members. Offenders will be fined up to 50,000 yen.

News source: Jiji