Regarding the Jan. 13 Views From the Street question — "If you could change one thing about Japan, what would it be?" — I think smoking should be banned in many places as it is in North America. I love Japan, but when I went to Tokyo for a trip in 2005, I ended up getting bronchitis because of the smoke in restaurants, bowling alleys and, really, everywhere.

Japan is such a lovely place that one day I would like to make it my home, and I think Japan would really benefit in many ways by banning smoking — at least in the areas that children and tourists visit the most.

stephen whittingstall