On April 1, nearly six years after private rail companies in the Tokyo area did so, the formerly government-owned JR East will ban smoking at all times from all platforms, removing all smoking areas.

While the Keio, Odakyu and other lines — adhering to the 2002 Health Promotion Law aimed at curbing secondhand smoke — had created a healthy environment for workers, commuters and neighbors with their complete ban from May 1, 2003, JR East had banned smoking only during the morning rush hour. Why has JR East, the world's largest passenger railway company with nearly 17 million riders a day, been allowed to wait until now to follow the private lines' lead?

The easy answer is the weakness of the 2002 Health Promotion Law, which carried "no punishment for non-compliance," according to Japan Times staff writer Masami Ito in a March 24 article.

However, the heart of the problem lies in the government presence in the former national railroad and the tobacco monopoly Japan Tobacco. By law, the government must hold over 50 percent of all Japan Tobacco shares, meaning the sole tobacco manufacturer in Japan is government owned despite "privatization" in 1985. With 50.02 percent of shares in the government's possession, we, the taxpayers, "own" Japan Tobacco, though we reap no benefits.

JR East has a similar legacy. The national railroad was broken up April 1, 1987, forming geographical train companies such as JR East. However, this "privatization" was in fact a ruse, as the parts were wholly owned by the government-owned JNR Settlement Corp. It was not until 2002 that shares in JR East were sold on the market.

Whereas the Tokyo-area private rail companies were risking smokers' wrath for moving toward a healthier future, JR East and Japan Tobacco were finding ways to enrich themselves, especially at the polls. The long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party receives "a lot of support from tobacco shops and farmers," Ito wrote.

But with the April 1 ban, perhaps JR East and the government realize the attitudes against smoking, especially secondhand smoke, are a tide they cannot hold back.

On my first trip to Japan in 1997, the last couple of rows on my Northwest Airlines flight allowed smoking, as did the business- and first-class cabins. Less than 12 years later, it is an accepted fact that smoking is not allowed on an airplane.

When I first started living in Japan, in 2002, I was surprised that McDonald's, KFC and other American subsidiaries allowed smoking. However, Starbucks was the only store that remained true to its roots. Sure, some Starbucks stores with outdoor terraces allow smoking only in that area, but even that is changing. The Starbucks near Omotesando Station in Tokyo does not allow smoking at its two outdoor tables.

Some private Japanese restaurants have followed suit, such as Ootoya, the chain of set-menu shops. Still, the fact that the vast majority of public areas are not smoke-free is appalling. Train platforms in the Tokyo area are a good start and taxis have become smoke-free, but being able to eat in peace without smelling like tobacco and inhaling secondhand smoke should be the most sensible, easy thing for any restaurant to provide. Partitioned areas don't solve the problem, either. Why would any restaurateur want the flavor of their food dulled by the taste and smell of tobacco? Why should any worker have to breathe secondhand smoke just to make a living?

People can choose to smoke, but it shouldn't come at the expense of someone else's health. The government should protect all in Japan, not just Japan Tobacco and the 24 percent who smoke.

E-mail: yung@ml.japantimes.co.jp