Smoking in Tokyo

[Alexander's Horse]

Japan was once a haven for smokers but no more. The habit is strictly controlled on the streets, really interesting to see that. In this very conformist society signs seem enough to deter. Big concerns about ambient smoke it appears.

But you can still smoke in restaurants.

[giblets]

Do you smoke? I don't know why else you would notice something like that.

[rah]

Japan was once a haven for smokers but no more. The habit is strictly controlled on the streets, really interesting to see that. In this very conformist society signs seem enough to deter. Big concerns about ambient smoke it appears.

But you can still smoke in restaurants.

That is bizarre. They control it outside but let you smoke inside where the dangers of ambient smoke is worse.

[Sava]

After Fukishima, cigarettes are the least of their concerns.

[Alexander's Horse]

Do you smoke? I don't know why else you would notice something like that.

I did and that is why I noticed. Also was in Tokyo 5 years ago and it wasn't like this.

As Rah points out the logic is curious. Restaurants you can smoke and people do quite unselfconsciously. But stand next to someone at a traffic light with a cigarette and you are a pariah. There are signs on the pavement at intersections saying no smoking.

In Korea and Japan people obey signs. You never see people cross the road when the walk light is red even when there are no cars around. I used to like to do it just for the shock value.

[The Mad Monk]

I understand they cross against the light in Osaka, and that's why it's considered the Texas of Japan.

[DaShi]

Unfortunately, the smoking ban is another foreign influence. Japanese people are the most resilient people in the world and really don't need to worry over such things.

[Dinner]

Now, I haven't been to Japan since the end of 1999 but back then EVERY (but the girls who some how were not allowed to smoke) guy seemed to smoke and it was allowed every where. I noticed the guys also treated, to a western mind, the women pretty much like crap, didn't hold doors, made the women wait while the guys walked ahead of them into the elevator (women always walked behind and waited for the guys every where) and generally were expected to wait on guys, even guys they didn't know, even if you were at a communal restaurant where they cook the food at the table and everyone eats from the same stuff. You'd see women who were obviously highly trained professionals, like doctors or what not, cook the food at the communial table because the guys wouldn't because, GAWR "DATS WOMEN'S WORK"! To paraphrase.

It was basically a misogynist's dream but I found it odd if a bit cool in a dirty I shouldn't like it sort of way.

[SlowwHand]

I understand they cross against the light in Osaka, and that's why it's considered the Texas of Japan.

You're real funny, aren't you?

[The Mad Monk]

No.

[Alexander's Horse]

Now, I haven't been to Japan since the end of 1999 but back then EVERY (but the girls who some how were not allowed to smoke) guy seemed to smoke and it was allowed every where. I noticed the guys also treated, to a western mind, the women pretty much like crap, didn't hold doors, made the women wait while the guys walked ahead of them into the elevator (women always walked behind and waited for the guys every where) and generally were expected to wait on guys, even guys they didn't know, even if you were at a communal restaurant where they cook the food at the table and everyone eats from the same stuff. You'd see women who were obviously highly trained professionals, like doctors or what not, cook the food at the communial table because the guys wouldn't because, GAWR "DATS WOMEN'S WORK"! To paraphrase.

It was basically a misogynist's dream but I found it odd if a bit cool in a dirty I shouldn't like it sort of way.

It's still a man's world but some change in that area too - assertive girls

[Elok]

Do they have a slanted male/female ratio, like China does? That might tip the balance in women's favor.

[Hauldren Collider]

The only way to have such a slant is if you abort baby girls. Japan wouldn't have such a slant for two reasons:

1. They would have to be having kids in the first place, and the Japanese don't seem to be doing that.
2. There's no one child policy, so if you want a son, you can try again.

[DaShi]

It's still a man's world but some change in that area too - assertive girls

So tsundere! Which is really just a reaction to such assertive girls and putting them in their place.

[DaShi]

The only way to have such a slant is if you abort baby girls. Japan wouldn't have such a slant for two reasons:

So racist!

1. They would have to be having kids in the first place, and the Japanese don't seem to be doing that.

This is because Japanese are nigh immortal. There's less of a need to procreate when you can live forever.

2. There's no one child policy, so if you want a son, you can try again.

The one child policy is not really the driving force of the boy:girl ratio. It's almost entirely cultural, which is why you see similar trends in Korea and India.