Japanese Features Japanese Streets Nagoya Features Society and Customs

Difference in what you see on the street, Part 3

These days in Nagoya, we rarely see smokers and pedestrians smoking on a street, especially on busy streets.  

This may be closely related to manners: smokers are NOT supposed to violate the right of non-smoking pedestrians.  Such the right as a safe walk should be prioritized especially in crowded areas, such as busy traffic intersections and busy streets in downtown shopping areas.  However, manners are not always respected, unfortunately.

In some areas in New York City, people smoke while walking on very crowded streets.  They walk with cigarette butt in their hand.  Non-smoking pedestrians who are passing the smokers always have to watch out not to get burnt by the kindling butt.  We were indeed one of those passengers-by who were almost hurt by cigarette butt.  It is definitely the case where the smokers stop all of a sudden in the middle of the street, right?  Yes, the passengers-by might bump against these smokers and get hurt.  

Some Nagoyans DID follow the path of such smoking New Yorkers and still, unfortunately, do.  However, the smokers in Nagoya have to pay some consequences.

In 2005, the City of Nagoya set up a municipal ordinance to regulate smoking on the street.  Especially, very crowded areas, such as commercial districts crowed with shoppers and major public transportation stations, are designated as "Non-Smoking Road." In the NSRs, smoking is prohibited and thus violators should be fined 2,000 yen.

The following yellow signs on the stairs  (shown in the picture taken at Nagoya Station) show the restricted areas.  The signs have kept reminding the pedestrians of the "Non-Smoking" regulation.

The above sign says that violators should be fined 2000 yen

The above signs are still on the risers of steps at Nagoya Station as of 2020.  

The sign on the pavement at Sakae Station

The above picture shows the "non-smoking" sign on the pavement.  Smokers should be fined 2000 yen in this designated area at Sakae Station (which is two subway stations away from Nagoya Station).  This was taken in 2020.

Please pay attention to these signs on the stairs and streets in Nagoya.  Otherwise, you would end up paying 2000 yen!!  For more detailed information about the restricted areas, see this following link.

You might be interested in what you see on the streets: trash on the street, and traffic intersections in Japan.  Another post on Vending Machines may interest you!!