Ashtrays that used to be near Hanshin Koroen Station and Hankyu Koyoen Station have been removed.
Where the Ashtrays Were
Here are the spots at Koroen Station and Koyoen Station where ashtrays had been installed.
Koroen
There is a shop right outside the south side of the station, and two ashtrays had been set up there.
It looks like both of them have been removed.
Around here,
and around here.
Koyoen
This is Koyoen, familiar to fans of Haruhi.
When you exit the station and go to the right, there is a tobacco shop.
The ashtray that was around here has been removed.
There was also a notice posted on the station bulletin board.
Why Were They Removed?
As written in the photo above, to put it simply, both the law and Hyogo Prefecture’s ordinance became stricter at the same time.
Let me explain briefly.
Health Promotion Act
This is a law that says, in effect, “Let’s all live healthy lives.”
It includes provisions about secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke means breathing in tobacco smoke from someone else’s cigarette.
The rules around this changed, and became a little stricter from July 1.
“People who dislike tobacco may end up breathing in smoke, so don’t smoke in places that many people use or pass through.”
“Don’t place ashtrays or similar items in those kinds of places.”
“If there are facilities that don’t follow the rules, Hyogo Prefecture or Nishinomiya City should handle it properly.”
That is roughly what it says.
Ordinance on the Prevention of Secondhand Smoke, etc. (Hyogo Prefecture)
Laws are national rules, while ordinances are rules set by prefectures, cities, towns, and villages.
This ordinance takes the law above and sets out more detailed rules suited to Hyogo Prefecture.
There are many detailed rules, and these also became stricter from July 1.
“Do not expose minors or pregnant women to tobacco smoke.”
“Pregnant women must not smoke.”
“Do not smoke in places where many minors or pregnant women may pass through, such as school routes.”
“Do not place ashtrays or similar items in those kinds of places.”
“Clearly indicate where smoking is allowed and where it is not.”
“IQOS and similar products are also not allowed.”
That is the general idea, although there are many other detailed rules as well.
So What Should Smokers Do…?
So what should smokers do?
Under Nishinomiya City’s rules, “smoking while walking is not allowed” and “smoking in non-smoking areas is not allowed.”
In other words, as long as smokers are considerate of those around them and follow proper manners, smoking itself is not prohibited.
In the case of Koroen, if you carry a portable ashtray and move a little away from the station, you could probably smoke at ease in a riverside park, for example, without bothering people nearby.
There was also this notice at the tobacco shop in Koyoen.
The tobacco shop is probably in the toughest position, but they say they will provide portable ashtrays.
The area in front of Koyoen Station has a lot of traffic, and many children pass through, so it may be hard to find a good place to smoke. But if you go a little farther away, there are parks and other spots.
It might be possible to make small adjustments, such as stopping at a park for a smoke before heading to the station.
Summary
The rules will become even stricter next April.
Ahead of that, I think efforts to prevent secondhand smoke will continue to expand in various places around the city.
Rather than doing it reluctantly just because “the rules say so,” it would be nice for Nishinomiya to become a city where people who smoke and people who do not smoke can think about and show consideration for each other.
