Japan is the only country allows smoking in the train. Three major Japanese railway companies think that the smoking car and/or smoking booth in a train are the superb service for train passengers. 列車内の喫煙室を上質の旅客サービスと考える鉄道会社

Hiroshima (L) Shinkansen N700 train is arriving for Tokyo at Hiroshima Station. (R) Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome, in Hiroshima. President Obama Participates in a Wreath Laying Ceremony Obama speech at Hiroshima 　President Obama in Hiroshima JR Tokai and JR West The smoking space in a train is necessary for all smokers, and that is the superb service for a customer? The N700 is a Japanese shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capacity, which was developed jointly by the JR Tokai ( Central Japan Railway Company ) and the JR West ( West Japan Railway Company ), for use on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. The N700 trains allow the trains to maintain the speed of 270 kms/h, even on 2,500 m radius curves that previously had a maximum speed of 255 kms/h. Another feature of N700 is that it accelerates quicker than other shinkansen trains (acceleration rate of 2.6 kms/h/s). This enables it to reach 270 kms/h in only three minutes. After these improvements, trains can travel between Tokyo and Osaka in as little as 2 hours and 25 minutes. 　 Shinkansen N700 train is ready to leave to Hakata at Tokyo terminal station. No-smoking sign was placed near the entrance to trains. However, it is not completely smoke-free. The super-express of the JR Tokai and JR West still have trains, which provide smoking seats. This policy is criticized by many citizens in Japan. The N700 trains are jointly operating by JR-Tokai and JR-West. It says all seats in the super-express train are non-smoking, and the sign plate is posted at the entrance to train vehicle. All trains other than N700 also connect with a smoking car. We can say the entire trains of JR-Tokai are not completely smoke-free. The railway companies should know the world trend of that smoking is prohibited in an indoor public place. Nevertheless, they think that the smoking space in a train is necessary for all smokers, and that is the superb service for a customer. No such railway company exists throughout the world, as far as the writer knows.The railway companies completely neglect the toxic adverse effects produced by the material of third-hand smoke, as identified as the residual contaminant after the cigarette was extinguished. It may cause an allergic reaction of the people within that environment. At least, it certainly creates the neighbor's profound displeasure. The Japanese Government is finally responsible for the unfaithful act by the railway company. Recently, many international airports closed an inside smoking room in the terminal building to avoid smokers to inhale the second- smoke each other, and to avert the third-hand smoke effects to an air passenger. In May 2010, Japan Tobacco Inc. started to sell a smokeless tobacco. It consists of a tobacco leaf and a kind of snuff tobacco and does not release a smoke. However, the major problem of this kind of tobacco is the adverse effect on the health of people around the user. When smokers respirate, exhale all kinds of the tobacco toxin. This is entirely same to the situation of cigarette smoking. Therefore, the smokeless tobacco products should be forbidden in the enclosed public spaces. The Japanese railway companies, JR-Tokai, JR-West, have no self-consciousness as a public transportation firm, that should fulfil their important duty to protect a passenger from all kinds of discomfort and danger. I regret to say, although a total smoking ban is recommended in an indoor space; at present, there is no law to restrict smoking in a railway train in Japan, and no immediate smoking-ban proposal by the government. Junhaku Miyamoto, MD, PhD, July 2010 JR shinkansen smoking rooms operated by JR Tokai. JR Shinkansen N700 is waiting for departure at Tokyo Station. All seats are no smoking, except for the six separate smoking room in 16 trains. A smoking booth in the Shinkansen N700 There is a sliding door between the smoking booth and nonsmoking pass way. Three ashtrays are provided in each smoking booth. A tobacco smoke often flows out into the train space, at each time a smoker open and closes an automatic sliding door. 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. The Japan Railway Group, more commonly known as JR Group, consists of seven for-profit companies that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned National Railways in 1987. The JR Group lies at the heart of Japan's railway network, operating a large proportion of intercity rail service, including the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines, and commuter rail service. The group consists of seven operating companies, which are organized into six passenger operators and a nationwide freight operator. Unlike some other groups of companies, the JR Group is made up of independent companies. The list of former national railway companies in Japan: Hokkaido Railway (JR-Hokkaido), East Japan Railway (JR-East) , Central Japan Railway (JR-Tokail), West Japan Railway (JR-West), Shikoku Railway (JR-Shikoku) and Kyushu Railway (JR-Kyushu). The article was written in February 2008 and revised in July 2010, by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD. AED (automated external defibrillator) at plateform of Shinkansen Nagoya station is ready to use, which is placed in next to the smoking room.The above pictures were taken in June 2012. (L) There is an open-air smoking place in the center of plateform at Nagoya Shinkansen station. A passenger standing or passing near by, will suffer from the toxic tobacco smoke. (R) Shinkansen super-express train is now arriving at Nagoya station. The above pictures were taken in June 2012. (L) The entrance to the smoking vehicle ( first class vehicle): 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. 700-series Shinkansen composition 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 N／S N N S N N N N N S N N N S S N: Smoking is prohibited inside of a train. S: Smoking is allowed at all seats inside of a train. JR-Tokai and JR-WEst provide four smoking cars in a composition of 16 cars. It includes three standard-class and one first-class car. Three major railway companies have no idea to protect their employees, a train conductor and a sales woman, working in the train.Japanese government does not interfere in the policy of JR-Tokai, JR-West and Kinki Nippon Railway companies. Note: The Japan Railway Group, more commonly known as JR Group, consists of seven for-profit companies that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned National Railways in 1987. Smoking is prohibited in all trains of JR-Hokkaido and JR-East, except for the night trains. A smoking booth was provided in an express train of JR-Tokai, JR-West and JR-Shikoku. In 2010, JR-Kyushu prohibited smoking in a train. However, upon completion of a new shinkansen-track line, which connects with Hakata, and a long-distance running to Shin-Osaka, the station of JR-Tokai, JR-Kyushu railway company provide a smoking booth in their jointly operated shinkansen trains. JR Tokai and JR West still have super-express trains, which provide smoking seats. This policy is criticized by many citizens in Japan. JR-Shikoku provides a smoking booth in almost all express trains. All express trains privately operated by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. in Kansai district, which frequently connect Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya and Ise, hasa smoking vehicle.After March 2011, JR-Shikoku closed all smoking booths in an express train. There will be no more unhealthy space in the train vehicles. JR-West and JR-East's deluxe cruiser train provide a smoking booth. JR Tokai N700 Three major Japanese railway companies think that the smoking car and/or smoking booth in a train are the superb service for train passengers. All sleeper-trains in Japan are connecting a smoking vehicle. JR's N700 high-speed train provides a smoking room. The smoking room in the train infringes the health of the passengers. Kinki-Nippon Railway Company claims the necessity of installing the room for smokers in all express trains. The smoking room in the train adversely affects the health of the passengers. Kintetsu Express This map shows the railway network of the Kinki Nippon Railway ( Private rail company ) (L) Limited express train of Kintetsu (R) Smoking kills: That is the ideal train marking for the smoking vehicle of Kinki Nippon Railway. 　 A smoking room in the limited express train of Kintestu Railway Limited express train, Urban-liner ( Nagoya - Osaka ) A smoking room in the limited express train of Kintestu Railway ( Nagoya - Osaka ) A smoking room in the limited express train of Kintestu Railway ( Nagoya - Osaka ) Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as Kintetsu. It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu, and Ise. Kintetsu also operates tourism, real estate, and shipping companies, and has a major rail car-building operation. As of 2013, all major express trains are non-smoking. However, there is always a smoking small room is provided mainly in the corner of one out of three vehicles. A passenger still may use a vehicle which is for smokers, in which no restriction of cigarette use inside. A train conductor has to check a ticket in the smoky vehicle, aspirating a toxic side-smoke, which may be a trigger to cause cancer. It is a suitable idea to put a mark of a death' head and cigarette on the body of Kintetsu-Car, so that it becomes a good photo-subject for many tourists visiting Kyoto, Nara and Ise-Shima. Guidance about Smoking vehicles of Kintetsu-Car by the railway company The company provides one or two vehicles at each vehicle organization, in which smoking is allowed. Please designate smoking or non-smoking when purchasing a ticket.Smoking cars are as follows, Express car, car number - 3,7 and 9. Please understand thatthe company operates a smoking vehicle as a non-smoking vehicle, after cleaning and odor-removal work. 近鉄特急喫煙車両案内 Guidance for the smoking carriage of Kintesu Express ( mainly in Japanese ) 特急列車とホームを含む駅構内の全面禁煙化への要望書: 日本癌学会、日本循環器学会、日本産業衛生学会、他15学会　(削除済) 「分煙推進へ」近鉄の回答書 (削除済) 　自民党たばこ議員連盟　『日本は分煙制度推進の先導的国家』となるべきと主張 Dr. Judith Macky of WHO criticized strictly, saying we cannot prevent the side-smoke spreads to another area in the indoor space. When we deter from diffusion of a harmful tobacco-smoke, it is necessary to produce the energy equivalent to a tornado. It is impossible to settle the complete separate-anti-smoke system. 列車内分煙では健康障害を防止できない Smoking ban in a railway system Smoking is prohibited in all trains of JR-Hokkaido and JR-East. A smoking booth is provided in an express train of JR-Tokai, JR-West and JR-Shikoku. In 2010, JR-Kyushu prohibits smoking in a train. However, upon completion of a new Shinkansen-track line, which connects with Hakata, and a long-distance running to Shin-Osaka, the station of JR-Tokai, JR-Kyushu railway company will provide a smoking booth in their jointly operated shinkansen trains. 　Japanese sleeper trains connect a smoking vehicle. 　JR-Tokai's smoking policy All shinkansen train stations between Tokyo and Osaka will have an enclosed smoking room. 　JR shinkansen Tokyo station 　　　A smoking-restriction policy is different between two JR railway companies. 　Kyushu shinkansen trains provide a smoking room. 　Smoking ban in JR-Hokkaido trains 　Smoking booth of JR Shikoku's express train was closed in March 2011. All non-smoking Tokyo-Aomori bullet train 'Hayabusa' debuted in March 2011. Maximum speed is 320 kms/H, the same level of France's TGV, the world fastest train. All non-smoking Tokyo-Akita bullet train 'Super-Komachi' debuted in March 2013. Other countries that prohibited smoking and removed a smoking booth from all trains. Long-distance trains of the Canadian (the distance traveled: 4,466 km) and the Southwest Chief(the distance traveled: 3,645 km) prohibit smoking inside of trains. The Indian Pacific (the distance traveled: 4,352 km) in Australia and all Russian trains, including the Trans-Siberian Railway, are smoke -free and no passengers can smoke. 　China prohibited smoking in all high-speed trains. During a trip, all the carriages are closed and equipped with smoke-alarms, so smoking is banned, not even in the connections of cars or toilets. According to the Railway Security Management Regulation, which newly released by the State Council, smoking is banned on high-speed trains and the non-smoking area of other trains. Those who violate the regulation will be fined CNY500- 2,000. The law was enforced in January 2014. Reference: TravelChinaGuide. com In advanced industrial counties, Japan is the sole nation in which a smoking car is running. However, a few Japanese people have doubted about that it is very unusual thing. Railway Travel around the World 世界鉄道旅行 　　All railway trains should be completely smoke -free. 　鉄道全面禁煙化は世界の常識 Smoking ban in the railway trains of the world 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） 　　　　　 　 　　　JR-East prohibits smoking 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. Smoking Regulation Awareness Survey in Japan Do you support the indoor total smoking ban? Total smoking ban in restaurant/bar 83.7% Display of smoking restriction at the entrance 9.2% Provided smoking booth 5.5% Gender display of voters: Male, 61.8%, Female 36.6% Source: Asahi Shimbun Awareness Survey on smoking regulation performed in April 2017. Source: A survey by Asahi Shimbun in 2017 ［日本] 2019年 男性喫煙率　27.1% Male 女性喫煙率　7.6% Female 引用:厚生労働省ウェブサイト．令和元年国民健康・栄養調査報告；2020年 Blue line - Male, Red line - Female 外国からも指摘されているが、オーストラリア、北米、北欧諸国に比べ男性喫煙率が非常に高い 保健関係者は「タバコ業界は、錯覚しそうな情報を流すが、教養のある人ほど惑わされない」と述べている 　2021年、US Smoking rate in male、13.1％、in female、10.1％ A new proposal about smoking regulation by the Health Ministry in January 2018 This is the worst anti-smoking measure in the World, neglecting WHO and IOC agreements. 日本語サイト Information in Japanese 喫煙対策世界最低レベル 厚生労働省は屋内全面禁煙を目指すべきと提言 Health Ministry urges smoking ban for restaurants, other indoor spaces. 列車内で喫煙を認めている国は日本のみ Japan only allows smoking in the train. 塩崎厚労相、WHO アサモア・バー事務局次長と会談　2017年4月 ・・分煙では効果ない、五輪契機に公共的閉鎖空間内の完全禁煙を A partial smoking ban is not effective. It is really desirable to install the law to prohibit smoking in the enclosed public space. 日本の対策「前世紀並み」分煙は効果なし 朝日新聞報道　2017 WHO: Japan needs anti-smoking law ahead of Tokyo Olumpics JR東海、JR西日本、および近鉄特急は、世界の完全禁煙との動向を完全に無視した、副流煙によるがんなどの病気、 2020年以降は「密閉、密集、密接」の場で、コロナウィルス感染症に罹患するこをと誘発しかねない列車を 運行する鉄道会社と言える。 JR 東海 　 　朗報　東海道新幹線の車内が2024年春から完全禁煙になる。 ＪＲ東海は、東海道新幹線の車内にある「喫煙ルーム」 　を、2024年の春にすべて廃止すると発表した。 JR西日本も、JR九州も同時期に廃止する。健康増進志向の高まりや 　喫煙率の低下が理由だとのこと。2007年に英国をはじめ、世界で列車内の喫煙場所を全廃してから、17年もの歳月を 　かけて、やっと世界の鉄道車内全面禁煙の動向に追いついた。国民の健康を守ろうとする政府の関与もなく、数回に 　亘る喫煙ブースの廃止を要望した15の学術団体の要請をも無視し、喫煙者を保護していこうとする鉄道会社の姿勢を 　反映した結果である。誠に情けない話である。 　世界の動向にやや遅れたが、JR東日本は、2007年3月18日から新幹線も在来線特急も全面禁煙に設定。鉄道会社 　トップの頭脳の違いを明確に証明したものとなった。 画像引用　NHK 2023.10.17 After three months of delays in deciding to abolish smoking rooms at JR Tokai, JR West, and JR Kyushu, the Kinki-Nippon Railway Company has finally decided to abolish a total of 126 smoking rooms installed on limited express trains from March 2024. JR Tokai, JR West Japan and Kyushu Shinkansen trains have been abolished Smoking booths in March 2024. 列車内の喫煙室を上質の旅客サービスと考えた鉄道会社 執筆　医学博士 宮本順伯 ★This Web site is link-free. The article was written in July 2010 and May 2016, by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD. Information was added in June 2020 and in March 2024. Copyright (C) 2010 Junhaku Miyamoto, PhD. All right is reserved.