Photo source: TokyoMap.com

Tokyo, officially Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side
of the main island, Honshu. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located in Shinjuku City.

Smoking Ban was adopted over Tokyo Taxi.

Since most Tokyo's taxis adopted the smoke-free policy, there has been reported little trouble with passengers.
A total ban of smoking in the taxis brought a fact that an increasing number of drivers is thinking of quitting
the smoking habits themselves. A recent survey found. Prior to the smoking ban, only 21.6 % of the drivers
who smoked said they wanted to quit. This figure has risen to 35.8%, since the ban has been in place.
The biggest reason voiced by supporters of the ban was that ' cleaning the inside of the cars has become easier'.
However, the 39.8% of those against the ban complained that 'they were carrying fewer passengers now'.

Although Tokyo taxis now nonsmoking, the majority of the country's restaurants, cafe and bars are still
allowing customers to smoke. There is no law, which bans smoking in a public indoor space in Japan.
Reference: Takahiro Fukada, The Japan Times, March 15, 2008.

(L) Information board notifying a total smoking ban in all taxis at the Tokyo metropolitan area
(R) All taxis carry no-smoking plate on the vehicle. Photographed near the East Gate of JR Shinjuku Station in January 2008.


Smoking ban in Tokyo's Taxi

東京の法人タクシーの9割近くが加盟する東京乗用旅客自動車協会は、理事会に都内の法人タクシーの
全車禁煙化を2008年1月より実施ししている。「東京だけが禁煙車が2割という状況にこだわっているのは
難しい。全車禁煙への対応を早めるよう検討したい」と言う。タクシーのグループや会社ごとでは禁煙化
の動きが進んでいる。タクシーグループ大手「チェッカーキャブ」は、保有する約5825台を全面禁煙とする
方針を2007年6月の取締役会で決めた。2008年1月から東京のタクシーは全面禁煙となった。


In Januaary 2008, all taxis in Tokyo became smokefree. The Tokyo Taxi Association decided
a complete ban on smoking in all vehicles.
Photographed in front of the North Gate of JR Tokyo Station.


A total smoking ban applied to all taxi vehicles in the Tokyo Metropolitan area is not by the state law,
but a voluntary decision by the Tokyo Taxi Association, which is an industry group to which nearly
90 percent of corporate cab operators in Tokyo belong, decided to enforce a total ban on smoking
in all vehicles at its board of directors meeting in August 2007.

The association had been hesitant about seeking a blanket ban because it assumed it would be difficult
getting the estimated 18,000 self-employed taxi drivers and about 50 nonmember taxi operators in
Tokyo to accept the policy. It also cited the many requests from customers who want to light up
when they travel for long distances at night. However, some operators in Tokyo have already decided
to adopt a complete ban on smoking. Checker Cab Company, a leading operator with a fleet of
about 5,825 cars as of June 2007, has decided that all of its vehicle will be smoke-free.

On the background behind the move of this non-smoking policy on their fleets, there is also judicial
support. The Tokyo District Court in December 2005 handed down a ruling that said a total ban on
smoking in taxis would be preferable. June 2007, Oita Prefecture became the first prefecture to make
all its taxis smoke-free. Nagano Prefecture followed suit.

Japanese Government was in a different position. Fuyushiba Tetsuzo, the Minister of Land Infrastructure
and Transport, in power between September 2006 and August 2008, made the assertion as a person of
government that all taxi vehicles should not be smoke-free, and we should provide a certain number of
smoking taxis. However, this crazy announcement was not officially binding, and a total smoking ban to
Tokyo's taxi was established in 2008, and, at present, is well operated.


Fuyushiba Tetsuzo, the Minister of Land Infrastructure and Transport,
in power between September 2006 and August 2008
He lost an election in August 2009.


一方、2008年1月から東京のタクシーが全面禁煙となることを伝え聞いた国土交通省（公明党、冬紫鐵三大臣）は、
公式見解として「一部喫煙車を残す事も検討しなくてはならない」と発言している。国土交通省は国として乗務員
および乗客の健康を配慮し、公共交通機関の全面禁煙化を促進すべき立場にあるのに、さらに、「国土交通省
は国家として禁煙タクシーを推進することはしない」と明言している。多くの日本人にはタバコ危険情報を無視
する風潮があり、日本の未来を担う政治家には将来を予測する分別がないようだ。

先進国では政府主導で公共運輸機関の全面禁煙が実行されているが、日本の政治家には物事を判断し、
国民を誘導する資質が欠如している。自動車の排気ガス問題であれだけ力を入れた東京都だが、タバコ問題
には関知せずとの姿勢を貫いているのはおかしい。しかし、こうした無能な官僚たちに頼らない、地方から
発動された民間主導型の全面禁煙への取り組みが、やがて日本全土に浸透して行くことを期待し、今後とも
注目して行きたい。


Smoking ban in taxis in Japan
タクシー全面禁煙化へ
Is it impossible to create a smoke-free society in Tokyo?
A smoking habit is a 'disease', or is a 'traditional culture' ??
東京都は屋内喫煙規制（受動喫煙防止）条例に否定的
Kanagawa Prefecture's Anti-smoke Law
Governor Shigefumi Matsuzawa stressed the need to provide a separate smoking room in
public places. Kanagawa Prefecture officially approved a waiter and waitress to work at
a restaurant with full of toxic tobacco-smoke.
神奈川県で労働者の健康保護を放棄した世界最悪の受動喫煙防止条例を施行
The way to sell a tobacco in Japan
'Cafe Tobacco' for smokers only, at downtown Tokyo
日本に於けるタバコ販売・喫煙者専用カフェ
Liberal Democratic Party of Japan ignores the Japan's Health Promotion Law.
自民党首脳にはタバコは必須



2007年5月執筆　2009年月12月加筆
禁煙席ネット主宰　日本禁煙学会認定専門医　医学博士　宮本順伯
本文および写真の著作権は宮本順伯に帰属
写真複写禁止
★「禁煙席ネット」へのリンクは自由
The article was written in May 2007, and revised in December 2009,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.