Spectators will be allowed to smoke in designated spaces inside and around stadiums during the Rugby World Cup starting next month, in stark contrast with the smoke-free 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Critics have questioned the organizer's policy, saying it runs counter to the global anti-smoking trend.
The Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture, one of the 12 venues, has undergone a major revamp for the event and a 220-square-meter outside smoking area was newly built.