The smoking policies of JR-Tokai and JR-West Companies are against the
current world
anti-smoking measures, and support smokers to put a cigarette in a railway
carriage.
 
A smoking room is provided in each high-speed train of JR-Tokai and JR
-West.
 
(L) The entrance to the smoking vehicle ( First Class ): This picture was
taken in June 2012.
(R) A smoking scene in a smoking vehicle of a bullet train operated by
JR-Tokai and JR-West
was up in YouTube by Anthony Leong.
The standard composition of JR-Tokai and JR-West Shinkansen train:
Car No. 10, 15 and 16 are smoking car.No. 10 is a first-class vehicle.
JR Tokai launches new N700A bullet train.
Operation of the N700A shinkansen, the first new bullet train developed
by JR-Tokai in roughly
six years, began on Feb. 8 2013, with crowds of railway fans turning up
to see the train off
at departure ceremonies in Tokyo and Osaka. Its external appearance is
practically the same
at that of the N700 bullet train and has the equal maximum speed of 270
kilometers per hour.
However, the new model has a braking system that kicks in during power
cuts caused by
earthquakes and other events, and the distance it takes the train to come
to a stop has been
reduced by 10 percent. N700A is controlled by a computer through use of
an automatic train
control system, with a "constant speed controller" enabling the
train to quickly recovering
the delays, which is the first system of its kind in a bullet train in
Japan. The new model also
has safety enhancements with a system to detect abnormal vibration and
prevent accidents.
We're proud to have the best and latest carriages," said Seki, chief
of JR Tokai's bullet train
operations division, at a ceremony before the departure. "Half a century
has passed since
the birth of the Tokaido Shinkansen. We have served as one of Japan's main
arteries, and want
to continue providing the world's highest standard of transportation services.
Reference: The Mainichi, February 8, 2013
However, JR-Tokai neglected the world's trend to abolish smoking room in
a railway train. JR-Tokai,
JR-West and some other railway companied in Kansai district still provide
a smoking car, in which
smoking is allowed in a train seat, or smoking booth in a train. This is
harmful to a train passenger
and against to the health policy. Unfortunately, Japanese Government and
a local prefecture
do not control the undesirable policy of these railway companies. I think
that Japanese technology
is one of the highest standards throughout the world, although the way of thinking about smoking
control is entirely devoid of good sense or judgment, compared to the advanced countries.
The article was written by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D.,PhD, on February 8, 2013.
All Shinkansen train stations between Tokyo and Osaka will have an enclosed
smoking rooms
JR Tokai, Central Japan Railway Company announced on Ferruary 15, 2013,
it would abolish
open air smoking areas on the platforms of all 17 stations between Tokyo
and Osaka.
It would build an enclosed smoking room on platforms or other alternative
sites at all of
the stations, excluding Tokyo and Nagoya, which already have such facilities.
Under
460 million-yen project, all outdoor areas of the shinkansen stations are
expected to be
smoke-free by the spring of 2014.
Source: Kyodo, Tokyo, February 15, 2012
An enclosed smoking room is not the solution for the adverse effects of
tobacco-smoke.
JR Tokai announced that it would abolish open air smoking areas and built
an enclosed
smoking room on platforms or other alternative sites at all the shinkansen
stations.
However, this is not the good solution to avoid the toxic influences of
tobacco products.
Two side effects exist when a person put light on cigarette. The one is
the second-hand
smoking. The other is the third-hand smoking.
The residue on clothing, wallpaper can react with a common indoor pollutant
to generate
dangerous chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA). Substantial
traces of
TSNA was also found on the inside surfaces of a smoking room packed with
a heavy smoker.
Smokers themselves are also contaminated. Smokers actually emit toxins
from clothing
and hair. Researchers say the third-hand-smoke is a health hazard, and suggest
a complete ban on smoking in the enclosed places to eliminate any risk. Nicotine residues
from a tobacco-smoke hang around for weeks or months.
An information guide of smoking rooms in the train of JR Tokai super-express
train
How to avoid a toxic side-smoke leaked from a smoking room provide by JR
Tokai, JR West
and Kintetsu Express trains:
For example, when smoking booth is provided in the carriages of No.3 and
No.7, it is strongly to
advise a non-smoking passenger to take a reserved ticket for No.5-carriage,
to eliminate any kind of health damage.
 The smoking room in the train infringes the health of the passengers.
 Three major Japanese railway companies think that the smoking car and/or
smoking booth
in a train are the superb service to train passengers.
東海道・山陽新幹線列車・近鉄特急喫煙ルーム
JR-East Railway
Kinki-Nippon Railway company still operates smoking vehicles in 2017.
The railway company leading a passenger to health damage
I have traveled over many countries using a train, in Canada, US, India,
Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand
and European countries; however, nowadays, I have never experienced to
hear the announcement of to guide
a smoking room or booth in a train. This kind of guidance might be all
train passengers to recognize the need of
smoking space in a train, and for smokers, inhibit the feeling not to smoke
for a while. As a result, it might work
as promoting a smoking during his train trip until he arrives at the destination.
In 2016, 49 countries, including the above-mentioned countries, allows
smoking inside of the train. Japanese
government should restrict such a smoking in a train by law. Otherwise,
it will put our people in Japan shamed
at the coming 2020 Olympic game.
Junhaku Miymoto, M.D.,PhD.
 Announcement in a train with smoking booth of JR's Tokaido-Shinkansen super-express
Cars 1, 2 and 3 are for the passengers without seat reservations.
Smoking is not allowed on this train except in
the designated smoking rooms located in cars 3, 7 and 15. The smoking
room in car No.10 is for the passengers
in the Green Cars. Please refrain from smoking in the train, including
areas at either end of the cars.
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When I was on the Shinkansen platform at Kyoto JR Station, I heard a loud
announce voice echoing
in the ears just before the train entering to the station; smoking rooms
are located at the Car3, Car7,
Car15 for regular vehicles, and Car10 for a Green Car (first-class). A
loud announcement for smoking
facilities of the Shinkansen trains coming to the Kyoyo Station, which
is the representative of
Japan's old capital railway station would make the tourists from abroad
might feel uncomfortable!
Such an excessive support of smoking behavior leads Japan as a country
preferential to a smoker,
and it counters the positive impression of Kyoto.
Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D.,PhD. November 2017
All railway trains should be completely smoke -free.
 Italia Rail: Trenitalia
Rail Travel Ireland
NZ Rail: Tranz Alpine/Scenic
Brief Journey by Australian Rail
Amtrak Acela Express: Boston-Newyork
Chicago CTA Rail
Miami Metro Rail
Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Express
Stockholm County Railways
X2000:Stockholm-Copenhagen Express
Greater Copenhagen Railways
Paris Rail Terminals
Paris Metro-RER-Tram
Bangkok Mass Transit/Thai Railways
Taiwan High-Speed Rail
Railways in Helsinki, Finland
Indian Railways and Dehli Metro
Portugal Metro, Railways
Amsterdam Rail
High-speed train in Spain 2010
Barcelona Railways
Washington DC Metro/Union Station
Railway Travel in France 2011
Railway Travel in Germany 2011
Vancouver Skytrain
Edomonton Metro
VIA train, Vancouver to Jasper
Alaskan Railroad
Korea Train Express, Airport Express and Metro
Amtrak: Seattle to Glacier National Park
Airport Express and MTR, Hong Kong
San Francisco: cablecar, tram and Bart
High-speed train in Germany, Austria and Switzerland 2013
Moscow Metro
Saint Petersburg Metro
Sapsan, high-speed train of Russia
Allegro, high-speed train between Finland and Russia
Alaskan Railroad
Railways connecting Canberra and Sydney, Australia
Gold Coast Light-Rail
Train in Norway, Trondheim to Oslo
Narita Airport-City Rail Service
Japanese high-speed train 'Hayabusa'
Japanese high-speed train 'Super-Komachi'
 Smoking ban in the railway trains of the world
Trains
Olympic Games and a restriction of smoking in a train by the host countries
| 1948 |
XIV |
 London (UK) |
| 1952 |
XV |
 Helsinki（Finland） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1956 |
XVI |
 Melbourne （Australia） Smoking is prohibited in a train.
 Stickholm（Sweden） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1960 |
XVII |
 Roma（Italy） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1964 |
XVIII |
 Tokyo（Japan） Smoking is allowed in a train. |
| 1968 |
XIX |
 Mexico City（Mexico） Inadequate information |
| 1972 |
XX |
 Munich（West Germany） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1976 |
XXI |
 Montral（Canada） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1980 |
XXII |
 Moscow（Soviet Union） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1984 |
XXIII |
 Los Angeles（United States） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1988 |
XXIV |
 Seoul（Korea） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1992 |
XXV |
 Barcelona（Spain） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1994 |
 Lillehammer（Norway） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1996 |
XXVI |
Atlanta（United State） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 1998 |
Nagano（Japan） Smoking is allowed in a train. |
| 2000 |
XXVII |
Sydney（Australia） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2002 |
Salt Lake City（United State） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2004 |
XXVIII |
 Athenes（Greece） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2006 |
Turin（Italy） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2008 |
XXIX |
 Beijing（China） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2010 |
Vancouver（Canada） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2012 |
XXX |
London（UK） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2014 |
 Sochi（Russia） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2016 |
XXXI |
 Rio de Janeiro（Brazil） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2018 |
Pyengchang County（Korea） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2020 |
XXXII |
Tokyo（Japan） Smoking is allowed in a train. |
| 2022 |
Beijing（China） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2024 |
XXXII |
 Paris（France） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
| 2028 |
XXVIIII |
Los Angeles（USA） Smoking is prohibited in a train. |
★This table shows the smoking ban in a train at the Olympic host countries
in and after July 2014.
China Government charges 2,000 Yuan for a violation of smoking restriction
in a high-speed train.
In UK, a penalty of the maximum 200 pounds is applied for a smoking at
a smoke-free designated vehicle.
Japanese Government admit to installing a smoking booth in a train to support
smoking act.
 Beware of Third-Hand Smoke
Japan's effort to curb exposure to secondhand smoke is one of the worst in the world.
Health Ministry 2016
 Smoke free should be the minimum standard for the host city of the Olympics.
Olympic healthy sports environment is frustrating.
You have to select carefully restaurants in which smoking is prohibited.
 日本語
 完全分煙を導入して喫煙害を排除したと考える愚かなJR東海とJR西日本
「禁煙席ネット」主宰 日本タバコフリー学会顧問 医学博士 宮本順伯 
★This Web site is link-free.
The article was written in July 2007, and last revised in November 2017,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
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