webjunkie
03-30-2011, 11:56 PM
Hey all! Wanted to write a post that would perhaps be interesting but that wasn't dealing with the radioactivity or the earthquake. So, now that I've moved to Japan, how is the country for smoking? Well it's awesome, but like so many things is horrible at the same time. Let me explain.
Anywhere I go (pretty much) I can smoke. Most places have smoking sections and non-smoking sections. In fact I'm in the smoking section of an internet cafe right now. Never ending coffee and other drinks... and it was just too cold and wet to sit outside on the balcony with my laptop.
Some places are by law smoke free, such as train platforms. But even these places have smoking areas with ash trays. Even then, because the culture is based around wanting to promote group harmony even if someone is smoking outside of this are then very few people would be willing to go up and tell them to get back to where they should be.
Speaking of group harmony, it's great for littering. Yes it does happen, but almost everyone carrie around these little flame retardent pouches that act as portable ash trays, so you still don't see masses of cigarette butts everywhere.
I have yet to enter a bar that didn't allow smoking. In fact went drinking with some friends at a local bar called, and I kid you not, the Mush & Room cafe. Bartender asked where he could get some cigars and offered me a light. Might have to stop in more often.
However (and this is a big however), where am I actually allowed to smoke? Almost nowhere. I'm employeed as a teacher by the precfectural board of education, who is in charge of all high schools in Nagano Prefecture. Teachers are supposed to to be role models for the students. So they don't actually care if we drink/smoke/ do other things that kids aren't supposed to, we just aren't supposed to do it where the students can see us, inside or outside of school. It is also interesting to note that if I see one of my students doing something they aren't supposed to off of school grounds, even if they are at home, I can punish them because they are still my responsibility. So no smoking at school (duh), no smoking when I'm out to eat because the students and their parents are usually around somewhere, and no smoking at home. I live in teacher's housing, but the wife said no smoking inside, and I can't really smoke ouside because the winter is too cold and windy, and I live in family housing so lots of kids running around everywhere. Also, the summer is ungodly hot and humid so everyone has their windows open (no a\c).
So it's legal to smoke pretty much anywhere outside of train platforms (and anywhere the owner says no smoking) but I'm not allowed to. So my smoking has become more infrequent. Oddly enough this is not a problem. On to the next issue!
Tobacco is readily available, but expensive. Cigs cost around 400 yen a pack, so about $5. Cigars are not so easy to find, but you don't have to shop around because prices are strictly controlled and are the same everywhere. Still, the only cigars I can find in my small (by Japanese standards) city are Te Amo and Phillies. Even these are expensive. A Te Amo runs around $7. Now in the large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto cigars are much easier to find, but Tokyo is an hour and a half away by bullet train and the ticket will cost about $80 so I don't get there very often. Even then, still not worth it as I can mail order for the same price and shipping isn't very expensive. I can also tell them when I want it delivered and the guy will even call ahead to make sure I'm there. Oh! The delivery services also use trucks that are climate controlled. This bit is awesome... actual prices... not so much. For example, a Monte #4 will run you 1,300 yen. So about $15. This is the standard price, you will not find it different no matter where you go, and there are no discounts for ordering boxes So a box will of those Monte #4s will run upwards of $400.
Further downside, Japanese customs is very good. So I could order from outside the country, but it will end up being the same or more expensive once they tack on the Japanese tobacco taxes and the luxury tax. So if you ever visit Japan, bring your own sticks! You are allowed 100 cigars tax free, but they never really look that hard when you're in the airport. They are more concerned about Japanese citizens going abroad and bringing back suitcases full of Marlboro Reds.
I never thought I would say this, but I miss Colorado cigar prices.
It's not all doom and gloom. Just price wise, and that I'm expected to not smoke where the students can see me, which is most places. So I'm in an internet cafe with a cigar, enjoying some privacy, a coffee bar, and a high speed internet connection. Now if I could find a source for Mexican food I would be set.
Now, regarding availability. Cigars are slowly gaining in popularity, especially among young, working, unmarried, women. The all important OL (office lady) market, because they have the most disposable income. So cigars aren't going away, and seeing how Japan Tobacco is mostly owned by the government, tobacco isn't going away.
So the next time you buy a cigar, just think, it could be a lot worse, and support the great B&Ms that you have.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Anywhere I go (pretty much) I can smoke. Most places have smoking sections and non-smoking sections. In fact I'm in the smoking section of an internet cafe right now. Never ending coffee and other drinks... and it was just too cold and wet to sit outside on the balcony with my laptop.
Some places are by law smoke free, such as train platforms. But even these places have smoking areas with ash trays. Even then, because the culture is based around wanting to promote group harmony even if someone is smoking outside of this are then very few people would be willing to go up and tell them to get back to where they should be.
Speaking of group harmony, it's great for littering. Yes it does happen, but almost everyone carrie around these little flame retardent pouches that act as portable ash trays, so you still don't see masses of cigarette butts everywhere.
I have yet to enter a bar that didn't allow smoking. In fact went drinking with some friends at a local bar called, and I kid you not, the Mush & Room cafe. Bartender asked where he could get some cigars and offered me a light. Might have to stop in more often.
However (and this is a big however), where am I actually allowed to smoke? Almost nowhere. I'm employeed as a teacher by the precfectural board of education, who is in charge of all high schools in Nagano Prefecture. Teachers are supposed to to be role models for the students. So they don't actually care if we drink/smoke/ do other things that kids aren't supposed to, we just aren't supposed to do it where the students can see us, inside or outside of school. It is also interesting to note that if I see one of my students doing something they aren't supposed to off of school grounds, even if they are at home, I can punish them because they are still my responsibility. So no smoking at school (duh), no smoking when I'm out to eat because the students and their parents are usually around somewhere, and no smoking at home. I live in teacher's housing, but the wife said no smoking inside, and I can't really smoke ouside because the winter is too cold and windy, and I live in family housing so lots of kids running around everywhere. Also, the summer is ungodly hot and humid so everyone has their windows open (no a\c).
So it's legal to smoke pretty much anywhere outside of train platforms (and anywhere the owner says no smoking) but I'm not allowed to. So my smoking has become more infrequent. Oddly enough this is not a problem. On to the next issue!
Tobacco is readily available, but expensive. Cigs cost around 400 yen a pack, so about $5. Cigars are not so easy to find, but you don't have to shop around because prices are strictly controlled and are the same everywhere. Still, the only cigars I can find in my small (by Japanese standards) city are Te Amo and Phillies. Even these are expensive. A Te Amo runs around $7. Now in the large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto cigars are much easier to find, but Tokyo is an hour and a half away by bullet train and the ticket will cost about $80 so I don't get there very often. Even then, still not worth it as I can mail order for the same price and shipping isn't very expensive. I can also tell them when I want it delivered and the guy will even call ahead to make sure I'm there. Oh! The delivery services also use trucks that are climate controlled. This bit is awesome... actual prices... not so much. For example, a Monte #4 will run you 1,300 yen. So about $15. This is the standard price, you will not find it different no matter where you go, and there are no discounts for ordering boxes So a box will of those Monte #4s will run upwards of $400.
Further downside, Japanese customs is very good. So I could order from outside the country, but it will end up being the same or more expensive once they tack on the Japanese tobacco taxes and the luxury tax. So if you ever visit Japan, bring your own sticks! You are allowed 100 cigars tax free, but they never really look that hard when you're in the airport. They are more concerned about Japanese citizens going abroad and bringing back suitcases full of Marlboro Reds.
I never thought I would say this, but I miss Colorado cigar prices.
It's not all doom and gloom. Just price wise, and that I'm expected to not smoke where the students can see me, which is most places. So I'm in an internet cafe with a cigar, enjoying some privacy, a coffee bar, and a high speed internet connection. Now if I could find a source for Mexican food I would be set.
Now, regarding availability. Cigars are slowly gaining in popularity, especially among young, working, unmarried, women. The all important OL (office lady) market, because they have the most disposable income. So cigars aren't going away, and seeing how Japan Tobacco is mostly owned by the government, tobacco isn't going away.
So the next time you buy a cigar, just think, it could be a lot worse, and support the great B&Ms that you have.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.