In February, the framework convention on tobacco control came into force, marking another milestone in the international antismoking movement. Japan has ratified the convention but is making only halfhearted efforts at tobacco control, frustrating antismoking activists ahead of No Tobacco Day on May 31.
The slogan adopted by the World Health Organization for this year's No Tobacco Day is "Health Professionals Against Tobacco -- Action and Answers." The campaign seeks to enlist the support of health professionals, such as medical doctors and nurses, who are well aware of the evils of smoking.
The slogan is fitting for Japan, as a medical association survey shows that 21.5 percent of male doctors in Japan smoke, compared with 3 to 5 percent in the United States and Britain.