OSAKA (TR) – A city-wide smoking ban went in effect on the streets of Osaka City on Monday. Osaka had previously banned smoking on the streets in six locations, including around JR Osaka Station, but from Monday it expanded to the entire metropolis.
Designated smoking areas are in place to offer some relief to those who need their nicotine fix. One spot garnering attention is Pole Dance Spot Mangus. Located in Chuo Ward, the venue offers citizens the opportunity to puff away during two shows daily (at 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday) as gals grind and slide on poles.
“We do it so that people can see what’s going on inside the store,” said the owner, who goes by the name Aya, “and it’s a way to contribute to society and promote the store.”
The aim of the ban is to make the city comfortable, safe and secure ahead of the World Expo, which opens in April. The task now is to assess whether the government implemented the ban and set up smoking areas, like Pole Dance Spot Mangus, to meet the needs of the city’s smokers.

Violators of the ban face a fine of 1,000 yen. In addition to conventional cigarettes, heated tobacco products are also included.
All told, 300 smoking areas — both public and private — have been set up, including through the provision of subsidies of up to 10 million yen to the private sector. One of the locations is Doyamacho in Kita Ward, where three smoking areas are in place.
Even though the original target was 140, Toshihiko Kano, chairman of the Hankyu Higashidori First Shopping District Association, still doesn’t think there are enough. “I’d like them to set more in front of stations,” he said.
Arrangement and access are also a concern. For example, of the 40 smoking areas in Kita Ward, six are at a single pachinko parlor.
“I don’t think I would go to a pachinko parlor alone to smoke,” one smoker says. “I think of pachinko parlors as places where you go to play pachinko.”
In commenting on the smoking areas, Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said, “We will consider how to deal with smoking areas while understanding the extent of the issues and needs.”
In the coming months, the city will assess the effectiveness of the ban. Upon the completion of a study, the results will be provided in the fall.
Back at Pole Dance Spot Mangus, the network seems to have found one smoker in favor of the smoking. “I’m busy,” the smoker said. “I have to smoke cigarettes.” When asked about watching and smoking, he said, “[The cigarette] tastes better.”