Coughing Up Reform: Japan Tightens Smoking Laws a Little

The new rules leave plenty of loopholes for smokers, especially those outside Tokyo

TOKYO—Japan tightened its smoking rules ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, belatedly joining a global trend after long being one of the easiest places among developed economies to light up.

Parliament passed a law Wednesday barring smoking in restaurants and bars with more than 100 square meters, or about 1,100 square feet, of space, except for separate and sealed smoking rooms. For the first time, the law sets fines for violators, with illegal smokers on the hook for up to ¥300,000 ($2,658).

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