National / Science & Health Aug 14, 2017
Bill on indoor smoking ban to leave restaurant issue on back burner
A revised government-sponsored bill aimed at banning indoor smoking won't include a size threshold for restaurants, sources close to the matter have said, in an effort to avoid clashing with ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers who are strongly opposed to banning indoor smoking at ...
Business Aug 12, 2017
Tobacco tax revenue to shrink by ¥50 billion this year: study
Japan's tobacco tax revenue is likely to drop by more than ¥50 billion ($460 million) this year as more smokers switch to heated tobaccos containing less tobacco leaves, according to an estimate compiled Friday by Kyodo News and a research institute. The fall is sure ...
National / History | JAPAN TIMES GONE BY Aug 5, 2017
Woman kills herself after keeping lost cash
by Elliott Samuels
100 YEARS AGO SUNDAY, AUG. 5, 1917 A message from Urawa states that one Miyo Sekine, a woman of 49 years, living at Hirakata-mura, Kita-Adachigori, Saitama Prefecture, committed suicide by throwing herself into a well in her neighborhood on Thursday. The woman picked up the other ...
National | FOCUS Jul 30, 2017
Indoor smoking ban bill stymied by LDP resistance ahead of Olympics
by Yumiko Doi and Miyuki Wakabayashi
Legislation planned to address passive smoking by banning lighting up in restaurants is in limbo because of strife between the health ministry and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. After an attempt to submit the bill to the Diet failed earlier this year, the Health, Labor ...
World / Science & Health Jul 27, 2017
Sperm counts falling sharply in West
Sperm counts in men from America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have dropped by more than 50 percent in less than 40 years, researchers said on Tuesday. They also said the rate of decline is not slowing. Both findings — in a meta-analysis bringing together ...
National / Science & Health Jul 23, 2017
Majority of Japan's governors back stronger steps against passive smoking: survey
Over 70 percent of Japan’s 47 governors think tougher measures are needed to reduce passive smoking, but less than half support the government’s proposal to basically ban indoor smoking at restaurants.
National / Science & Health Jul 16, 2017
Health ministry gives telemedicine green light for those who wish to quit smoking
The health ministry has approved allowing doctors to treat via smartphones or personal computers patients who wish to quit smoking, ministry officials have said. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry informed all 47 prefectures of the change, which took effect Friday. As long as a patient ...
Editorials Jul 1, 2017
Bad decision on passive smoking
The government should be ashamed of knuckling under to the tobacco industry and deciding not to crack down on smoking in public places.
National / Science & Health Jun 27, 2017
Smokers make up less than 20% of Japan's population for first time, survey finds
Results seen as giving boost to health ministry’s proposal to ban smoking in enclosed public spaces before the 2020 Games.
National / Science & Health Jun 6, 2017
Indoor smoking ban shelved as LDP and health ministry reach impasse, sources say
The ministry and the LDP still cannot agree on what kinds of establishments should be designated as exceptions to an indoor smoking ban.
National / Science & Health | A MATTER OF HEALTH May 31, 2017
Pro-tobacco LDP clouds chances of indoor smoking ban in time for Tokyo Games
by Mizuho Aoki
May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day, but the prospect of Japan banning indoor smoking in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics looks hazier than ever. With the last day of the current Diet session looming, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has faced fierce ...