http://www.jstc.or.jp/
E-mail desk@nosmoke55.jp〒162-0063 東京都新宿区市谷薬王寺町 30-5-201
Tel 03-5360-8233 FAX 03-5360-6736

2023/9/27
Keizo Takemi, Director of Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
29 September 2023
Manabu Sakuta, Chairperson of the Japan Society for Tobacco Control
I would like to express my gratitude for your ongoing administration of issues inhealth, labor and welfare.
Because three or four problems have occurred, I would be duly grateful to meet withyou and to hear your advice.
1. Illnesses from passive smoking were published in ICD11 from the WHO.
QD70.5 Various problems caused by tobacco smoke exposure (Illnesses from passivesmoking)KD37 Perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke
QD84.Y Passive smoking at the workplace (other specific occupational exposure torisk factors)
In addition, many other tobacco-related diseases were listed.
2. Problems of smoking shops (rooms)
We have been concerned about this for some time, and it has been widely reported in
the Toyo Keizai magazine.
“Loopholes in regulation? The reason why pubs and bars that freely allow smoking
exist, the mystery of why restaurants pass as “smoking establishments”” Toyo Keizai
Online, August 19
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/665047484a8bd56584e1db0e834bcf4312ba302a

Clearly, many stores are operating illegally.
“The definition and requirements of smoking institutions have raised many doubts.
It is necessary to continuously provide technical support from the national
government so that uniform and appropriate responses can be made, such as prompt
responses to inquiries and the maintenance of Q&A forums, which have not been
updated since the start of the system.”

Doubts have started in Tokyo and are arisingacross the whole country.
3. To prevent passive smoking in apartment buildings
According to the comment from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport andTourism, whether pets are allowed should be stipulated in apartment building
management codes. Likewise, I would like to make the following new comments andto request revision of standard management codes regarding smoking in apartmentbuildings, where multiple troubles and much damage have occurred across the nation.

Standard management codes in apartment buildings by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and revised comments
1. Regarding smoking, provisions that allow or forbid this matter should be stipulated
in the building codes. It is possible to stipulate basic matters in the codes and to entrust
the provisions of detailed procedures to by-laws on use. Furthermore, if smoking isallowed, it is necessary to stipulate provisions such as no smoking in sharedenvironments like balconies, no littering of cigarette butts, protections against damage
from passive smoking for other occupants even in privately owned rooms,
responsibilities for damages caused by passive smoking, and measures to be taken
against violators.
2. Examples of codes that prohibit and authorize smoking are as follows.
When smoking is prohibited(Prohibition of smoking)
Article X. Owners of units and occupiers must not smoke, whether in privately owned
units or common areas, combustible rolled cigarettes, heated tobacco, or any othernicotine product.
When to authorize smoking(Smoking)
Article X. Owners of units and occupiers who smoke must comply with the by-laws on
use and the by-laws concerning smoking. However, if complaints are reported fromother owners of units or occupants and if the suspects do not follow recommendations
to correct the situation, the Board of Directors may take measures, includingprohibiting smoking.
4. An association of victims of passive smoking in neighborhood housing wasestablished.

Because it was established several years ago and now has about 2000 members, theJapan Society for Tobacco Control has accepted responsibility for this.
We plan to search how to accurately measure PM2.5 and total volatile organic
compounds (TVOC), to grasp such circumstances and to improve techniques.
Conclusion