Smoking around your kids?

Question

I see those so much in Japan. Parents smoking around their kids at a restaurant or around pregnant women. Smoking in the parks playing with the kids, smoking while driving in the car with the windows rolled all the way up.

I really do like Japan a lot. The people are polite, usually respectful, service is waaaay better than North Am, the girls have good style, the food is awesome, etc.

I guess I've developed some pet peeves while over here. But is it just me or do people not really understand how bad it is for them to smoke around their kids? When they grow up, they will smoke too and then the parents will get mad at the kids for starting that up! I wonder why they started, eh dad/mom? Thanks to you, you have smoker kids.

It's just overglamorized to smoke. I think Korea is pretty bad too from what I hear. North Am people are cutting back maybe? I'm not sure.

Answer 1

I feel the same way you do. I never understood how such smart people could accept such a blarringly unhealthy habit. Last time I was in Japan, cigarettes were still being sold in vending machines on the streets where anyone could buy them (I don't know if this is still the case.)

Anyway, I was once told that because so many people in Japan are business people, many of them work high stress jobs. Smoking has become one socially acceptable way to deal with that. I don't really like that answer, but that's just what I was told.

I love Japan and I am planning on moving there soon. But this is one (of many) thing that I am worried about. Cigarette smoke doesn't sit well with my asthma at all ;_;

Answer 2

I agree with you - I frequently see people smoking all over their kids. Frankly I think they're not fit to be parents, they should be grateful that their children are alive and be careful to do nothing that might harm their kids - but they're just too selfish and petty minded, so they do what THEY want to do and damage the child's health.

Don't imagine that it's only Asia though - in my home country - England - they've recently passed some law banning smoking in public places ... but that will NOT help the kids! Except on 'days out' people spend most of their time IN THE HOME - so those kids will STILL be smothered in smoke most of their lives... and on those 'days out' they'll just smoke all the way there in the car - and all the way back again...!

I used to know a woman in England, her youngest son had severe asthma, but she STILL insisted on smoking all over him - and then she wondered why he had so many bad asthma attacks ..!?!?! Crazy!

Answer 3

I do agree with you.
Here in Japan, there are great many people who smoke, far more than Europe and North America. They may not know the risk of smoking. It's pretty nice that you foreigners look Japanese as polite people, but these days, sadly it's changing. Japanese younger people are just crazy with no moral, Japanese culture, commom sense and manners...at least I feel proud of being a Japanese!

Answer 4

Like someone else said, things are getting better. More establishments are becoming non-smoking, and smoking is getting a bad rap on t.v.

Once I was in McDonalds and three high school girls were sitting there smoking. Maybe they weren't in h.s. but they were wearing uniforms!! I couldn't believe that the management didn't kick them out.

Smoking clean!!!! Isn't that a laugh????

Answer 5

If it's of any consolation, there is a lot less smoking in Japan now than there was 20 years ago. These things take time.

Answer 6

The number of smoker is decreasing every year.
The speed is as same as US had experienced before.

Your question and the topic have been argued over 20 years.
Need time, but fortunately, today many Japanese hate smoking too.

If you want quick change, raise your voice as an expatriate.
It may works (I am not kidding. Japan moves with foreigners voice sometime,)

http://www.health-net.or.jp/kenkozukuri/healthnews/050/010/c9013/images/901301.gif

Answer 7

i lived in japan for 3 years so i know what your talking about but that situation is everywhere! its sad but true

Answer 8

Obviously it can't be hurting them too too much since they still have the longest lifespan in the world.

Answer 9

NO PROBLEM.UNLESS YOUR KIDS ALSO SMOKE. THEN THEY WILL BE SMOKING AROUND YOU OR THEY WILL JOIN YOU.

Answer 10

hi.................no..........it`s bad imp. on child smoking is also dengerious to health