Japanese Lawmakers Seek Total Smoking Ban in Diet and Government Offices

A bipartisan group of lawmakers requested that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare implement a total smoking ban across the National Diet and other government facilities ^[1].

The move signals a push to close regulatory loopholes that currently distinguish heated tobacco products from traditional cigarettes. By targeting administrative grounds, the group aims to set a national standard for public health, and protect vulnerable populations from secondhand smoke ^[1].

Senator Matsuzawa and the bipartisan parliamentary group focused on promoting second-hand smoke prevention measures during their visit to the ministry on July 8 ^[1]. The group said the government should strengthen regulations on heated tobacco products to make them equivalent to those for combustible cigarettes ^[1].

This request follows the full implementation of the revised Health Promotion Act in April 2020 ^[2]. While that law established broader restrictions on smoking in public spaces, the lawmakers said that current rules are insufficient to prevent health damage from passive smoking ^[1].

Senator Matsuzawa said the system needs a review to create a framework that saves the vulnerable ^[1]. The group said that government facilities, including the Diet, should lead by example by becoming entirely smoke-free environments ^[1].

The request emphasizes the need to prioritize public health over the convenience of smokers within state-operated buildings. The lawmakers said that the health risks associated with secondhand smoke necessitate a more aggressive approach to regulation than what is currently provided under the 2020 guidelines ^[1], ^[2].