A group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers backing the health ministry¡¯s push to crackdown on secondhand smoke held an emergency meeting on Wednesday in response to what they say is an ¡°out-of-the-question¡± proposal unveiled a day earlier by pro-tobacco party members.
¡°Our heart is with the health ministry on this,¡± Akiko Santo, an anti-tobacco crusader in the ruling party, told reporters after the meeting in Nagata-cho ¡ª the nation¡¯s political epicenter. ¡°Given Japan¡¯s efforts against passive smoking are among the worst in the world, we need to realize how detrimental secondhand smoke is to our health and prevent it through multiple measures.¡±
Santo and Toshiharu Furukawa, who is also a member of the group, voiced dismay at the proposal disclosed by pro-smoking LDP lawmakers that they say disregarded the health ministry¡¯s attempt to stamp out secondhand smoke in public facilities.
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