The Osaka municipal government is pushing ahead with plans to impose a total ban on street smoking in the city before it hosts Expo 2025.
Under an ordinance introduced in 2007, the city government designated no-smoking areas where a fine of ¥1,000 is imposed for violations. Last year, it announced plans to expand such areas to cover the entire city by 2025 while increasing the number of authorized smoking spots from the current six to 120 locations.
But securing land plots for public smoking spots and removing ashtrays in the city have proven to be difficult, leading to a bumpy road for authorities as it aims to achieve a blanket ban.