Blowing Smoke
We often say someone is blowing smoke when they are bluffing or making big statements. I want to use it differently, mostly because talking about smoking is a little taboo in some countries.
In Japan smoking is both accepted and not. It’s a strange blend. You’ll find smoking in a lot of TV shows, anime, manga, and even movies.
Smoking in Japan has a long history, and while it’s seen in many countries as an evil thing, in Japan they still have some mystique around it. I think part of the reason why smoking isn’t villainized in Japan is because there are very few underage smokers. (legal smoking age is 20)
Another reason is that it is seen as a way to handle stress, same as drinking. That said, the way smoking works here is different from the way it works in other countries.
Let’s take a look at three things: Buying, outside and at home.
Buying
Buying something to smoke in Japan is very easy, and difficult, depending on what you smoke and your level of Japanese. You’ll probably need at least enough Japanese to say something like:
すみません。タバコお願いします。
二百三十八番。
はい。
ありがとうございます。
I left out the cashiers side of the conversation as this is the ideal interaction with you just saying yes when they show you the pack.
Now, konbini’s are not the only place you can get smokes, you can also get them from special vending machines. Actually you can’t, I can.
The difference is that I have a form of ID that can be used to prove I am older than 20. I haven’t used them, but they are everywhere, if you know what to look for.
Your third option is to go to a tobacconist, they are often in cities or hidden away. If you are one to roll your own cigarettes, then this is for you.
You can find a lot of different types of tobacco there, I recommend getting the Black Spider brand. They have many flavours but all of them are on the stronger side. My only warning is that the Menthol Max should be blended unless you are looking to feel like you breathed in an ice storm.
I have to note, vaping in Japan is purely for quitting or show, they have a zero nicotine rule here.
Outside
Blowing smoke can be difficult if you don’t know where you can do it. So let’s look at the most likely situation first. You just landed in Tokyo, you got your smokes, but everywhere you look there are no smoking signs.
Welcome to Japan, here’s your first warning, don’t smoke close to a no smoking sign even if there are people doing so already. When you are walking outside please look for designated smoking areas.
In a recent anime “Smoking Behind The Convenience Store With You” we get to see how difficult city life can be for a smoker, so follow these hints/tips for finding smoking areas.
1. Konbinis are your friends.
Unless the area they are in is a no smoking zone or city, you’ll normally find an ashtray at the front for the customers to use.
2. Look for traditional Japanese food streets.
The traditional Japanese eating establishments often have ashtrays outside for their clients, unfortunately this is also becoming less and less as they are often in the city centres and those places get hit more with the “smoking bad” crowds.
3. Public smoking areas.
Like with the others they are becoming less prevalent in bigger cities, but they are still there. This is normally a space walled off with dividers that has one or two ashtrays. The dividers are more to give a child free area to smoke than to hide the smoking.
4. Other spaces.
Here we have to be more careful, you can smoke in many outdoor areas that are away from crowds, and sometimes smoking while watching the waves is relaxing. The thing to remember is that if there are people, they might report you for smoking if the area is non smoking even if there aren’t any signs.
One more thing to remember is that there aren’t ashtrays everywhere but it is a crime to dispose of your cigarette butts on the ground. So remember to buy a portable ashtray when you get your smokes. The most common one looks like a small plastic envelope that you open and ash in, they can handle the heat so don’t be scared to drop in the cigarette to extinguish it.
At home
Most apartments and hotels will not allow you to smoke inside.You’ll either have to find a smoking room, the designated outdoor area, or you’ll have to go outside to smoke. Most apartments don’t forbid smoking on the premises, but some do, so be careful.
Smoke blown
All in all, blowing smoke isn’t that different here as it is in any other country, you just need to know some of the rules to follow. Now all that’s left is to find out if I told the truth about all this or if I was just blowing smoke.
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