The Tenor of a Question Concerning Tobacco Sales Policy-- Submitted on July 31, 1982 .
Question No . 20

Mr . Hajime Fukuda, President of the House of Representatives, Japan
I, Shozo Kusakawa, submit the following tenor of a question on July
31 .

1982 .
Shozo Kusakawa

The Tenor of a Question Concerning Tobacco Sales Policy

As a result of U .S .-Japanese negotiations on tobacco
trade, the government is planning to allow stepped-up advertisement
activities for imported cigarettes and increase the number ofretailers handling imported tobacco .
On the other hand, the government is stepping up thesales of new brands .of domestically-produced tobacco and a shrewd
advertising drive for them through various madia in order to increase
the revenues from the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation (JTS) .
I have repeatedly pointed out at meetings of related
committees that such government moves will result in an increasein the number of smokers among youngsters and women who are most

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susceptible to the harmful effects of smoking and therefore injure
their health . But since the government has not responded to mycontention, I submit the following inquiry on the occasion of thesale of a new brand of tobacco .

-1 . It has been said that "Nova," a nev, brand of tobacco to be put
on sale by the JTS on August 1 is aimed at the younger generation
and was developed with the aim of increasing the number ofwomen smokers, and the public relations office of theJTS has
been saying so . But does the government think this does notrun counter to the 1975 WHO recommendation urging "Not to letthe youth smoke"?
It has been pointed out that additives (flavorers) used incigarettes are carcinogenic .
a . How many kinds of flavoring additives are in use now?
b . Has the Health and Welfare Ministry confirmed they are notcarcirogenic and ascertained the safety of them?
c . The JTS does not make public what flavoring additives it
has been using claiming that they are trade secrets . How
has the safety of the additives been ascertained?
3 . A research paper made public in the United States found thatthe radioactive element polonium contained in cigarettesmoke was harmful to the human body . What is the government'sappraisal on the report that how is the government going tocope with it?

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4 . It was reconfirmed at the third international conference onlung cancer held in May this year that cigarette smoking ishazardous to the health and causes cancer . What is the government's view on the harmful, cancer-causing effects of cigarettesmoking?
5 . How much money have_the state and the JTS actually spent for
research on the harmful effects of cigarette smoking in thpast 10 yeras? Do you think such research should be done by
the state with the Health and Welfare Ministry taking the lead?
6 . The 1975 WHO recommendations included restrictions on tobacco
advertisements . What is the government's view on the recommendation and specifically what steps has it taken in response
to it?

7 . Tobacco commercials on radio and television are banned in theUnited States and advanced nations in Western Europe . Why
are such commercials permitted in Japan? And also, how have
the JTS' advertising expenses changed in the past 10 yeras?
8 . The number of smokers among the youth has been growing every
year and smoking often leads youngsters to conmit misdemeanors .
Under these circumstances, does the government consider it
necessary to conduct a survey on smoking by the youth such as
the ratio of smokers in the total number?

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9 . The government every year sets aside part of its budget for
public relations propagating various government policies tothe people . Does the government think it necessary to step up
measures and public relations activities to prevent the younger
generation from smoking?

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