It’s been four years since Japan banned indoor smoking at large restaurants, offices and many other public places. As the world marks World No-Tobacco Day on Friday, debate is growing over passive smoking in one crucial space that remains unregulated: private homes.
The revised Health Promotion Act that took effect in April 2020 does not cover passive smoking in living spaces — a concern in Japan, where many people live in multiunit apartment buildings or small houses crammed together with little space between them.
Exposure to secondhand smoke that wafts over from a neighbor's balcony could cause serious health issues. It has been long established that secondhand smoke raises the risk of lung cancer and other diseases among nonsmokers.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.