Smoking in Japan
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Around 20,000,000 people in Japan smoke, and the nation is one of the world's largest tobacco markets, though tobacco use has been declining in recent years.
Tobacco on display in a store in Tokyo
A no-smoking patrol in Adachi, Tokyo, in 2014
Indoor smoking room at Shin-Ōsaka Station
E-Goyomi (Lady Smoking) Woodblock print believed to be by Korinsai, dating between 1785 and 1790. She is smoking with a long kiseru.
Izakaya
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An izakaya is a type of informal Japanese bar that serves alcoholic drinks and snacks. Izakaya are casual places for after-work drinking, similar to a pub, a Spanish tapas bar, or an American saloon o
Smoking in Japan
…Restaurants and bars have a ban on indoor smoking except in well-ventilated rooms, where drinking or eating is not allowed. However, small pubs like izakaya are exempted. Establishments with a ¥50 million capitalization or lower and up to 100 m2 floor space can allow smoking if they put up a warning sign…
An izakaya in Gotanda, Tokyo. The signboard on the right shows a menu with regular dishes (left) and seasonal entrees – nabe (right).
Taipei izakaya in 1951
People at an izakaya, sitting by the bar and facing the kitchen
Chicken karaage