I write
articles about culture, technology, and human rights for Wired, Popular Science, Fast Company, and the New York Times Magazine. I also produce radio segments for PRI's Studio360 and am a Correspondent for
Boing Boing, one of Time Magazine's five most essential blogs of 2010.
In 2008, Chronicle published my book: Urawaza: Secret Everyday Tips and Tricks from Japan.
I am also the founder of The Tofu Project, a boutique program that helps Japanese entrepreneurs and creators think deeper, tell better stories, and go out into the world in a much bigger way. We work with companies like Mixi, Japan Airlines, and Salesforce.com.
Sometimes I try to explain Japanese culture on CNN, BBC, CBC, WSJ, ABC (so many acronyms!) or in person at places like the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, ETech, and Ignite!
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I'm really glad I did not run afoul of this when I was there. The only indication I had that I was on a non-smoking street was the paint on the asphalt, and occasionally a sign. I did notice that some streets have a smoking side and a non-smoking side, which seemed to be a nice compromise. Still, I was simply pleased to be able to smoke in bars, something I can't do almost anywhere in the states.
Posted by: ninjagin | January 12, 2010 at 08:19 AM
I also saw a lot of smoking stations out on the busier streets. I liked these smoking rooms because they had vending machines inside where I could get Dunhill Fine Cuts, the only cigarette worth dying for and sold NOWHERE else in Japan but Tokyo! Those are all I'll ever smoke and when they ran out, I quit.
Okinawa, other than Kokusai Dori, has no such bans and I wonder if Tokyo's example will be followed.
Posted by: twitter.com/bluemagister | January 12, 2010 at 07:00 PM
There is the ongoing story that some smoker in Japan poked a kid's eye out while carelessly walking down the street, smoking. I was not able to verify that online yet. But this seems to be a big motivator behind all the smoking bans in Japan. On the other hand, it is still ok to smoke in most restaurants, which is kinda nice.
Posted by: Peter Nacken | January 13, 2010 at 09:27 PM
I'm not a smoker but I do see the appeal of having a place to purchase cigarettes and smoke comfortably. Here in California it's really frowned upon to light up near other people. Especially when crowds of people are together. Example: I was waiting in line for a bridal fashion show and a young lady lights up in front of me and my friend. My friend and the two women behind us start saying things out loud behind her back just to let her know how much it was unappreciated. At that point I wasn't sure who was being rude to each other - both, right?
Not that I want to encourage more smoking but a space for it sounds like a heaven for smokers especially when it looks as nice a lounge as the picture above. I remember passing by one when I was in Tokyo. It seemed like a nice place to rest in with all the seating and vending machines with drinks and snacks... if I was a smoker.
Posted by: Denise Henson | January 20, 2010 at 11:16 PM