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uuwnlu iwu nurn wuaccuwrnrur.un~.cwn un o rewuery cuuo News analysis JAPAN: REVOLUTION ON THE STREETS JAPAN: REVOLUTION BESIDE THE STREETS While tobacco control policy often deve-l- countless workplaces in Japan still lack any It, addition to taxis, Japan is showing not ups incrementally, progress occasionally clean air pmtection. When it ernes to only rapid progress but some of the arrives with a "tipping point" tobacco smoke pollution, Japan's govem- world's best practice at implementing dynamic After seemingly fruitless veers mental authorities remain stubbornly or, smoking restrictions at street level, to be of administrative petitions, lawsuits and the sidelines, avoiding the enactment of precise, some 40 cities and districts have public protest, the quick uptake of smoke- mandatory and comprehensive clean indoor now banned smoking in outdoor public free taxi rules in Japan from 8% to over air laws contemplated by Article 8 of the areas such as pavements on its famously 50% in a mere 16 months represents a World Health Organization's framework busy city streets. The bans are dearly great leap forward. Advocates have Convention on Tobacco Control and its signposted and small areas are commonly achieved stunning results as this enhance- implementation guidelines. designated, such as areas outside conveni- ment for dean air for passengers will The 16-month rise from S% to 500% of ence stores and other expedient locations, vitally protect the workplace health of taxis being smoke-free reveals how a as the only places within designated smoke- well over 100 000 taxi drivers. popular tobacco control policy can emerge free zones where people can smoke. The change began quietly when the taxi in Japan, even in a sector which, aside from In Japan, world leader in politeness and association in Oita, a small prefectural smoke-free banners flown over a mere good manners, regulations prohibiting capital on Japan's southern island of handful of vehicles, had seemed impervious street smoking enjoy widespread public Kyushu with a substantial tourism econ- to change. It shows that dean air policies support and compliance is high. Chiyoda, omy, implemented Japan's first smoke-free are economically viable and that they can a business district of Tokyo, has 40 000 taxi rules for its 980 vehicles in April 2006, be implemented with high levels of residents but during the day the population adding an additional 180 taxis in the compliance. Clearly, the Japanese public is expands to around one million. Officials in prefecture's outlying areas in September ready. With the taxi example as a guide, thedistricthave issued40 000infringement deaston makers in both the public and 2006. Then, after May 2007, when notices for smoking in smoke-free areas in Nagoya's taxi association proved this could private sectors should step forward to give the past 4 years, fining people the equiva- work for 8000 taxis in the country's fourth the public more of what it wants and lent of USS20 if they are caught smoking on largest city, Kanagawa prefecture including deserves. smoke-free pavements. Yokohama and Kawasaki, Japan's second Mark Levin and ninth largest cities, and eight other William S Richardson School of Law, The prefectures rapidly joined in. The crown University of Hawaii ai Manoa, Honcluhy jewel was put in place in August 2007 when USA; Levin@hawari.edu the city and metro region taxi associations of the capital, Tokyo, announced smoke- free rules scheduled for implementation in January 2008. Important tasks remain. Taxi regula- tion has come about by local industry self- regulation, attributed to customer demand more than to public health, due to smoke left in too many cabs through- out Japan. Also, while progress is materi- alising from an advisory national law and market-driven private sector policies, Japan: a comprehensive street sign clearly showing what is rot permitted in streets within the area shown on the map. Japan: spnr purled m the pwemrn eatace remits w'.lkras om in Smoke ,n Miee-z m1wP snvA,no is WrhUrPA Tobacco Control February 2008 Vol 17 No 1