Tobacco.org

• Japan Tobacco strikes back with smoking salons 

To stem the rising tide, the nation's sole tobacco maker heated up its own campaign Wednesday, opening its second smokers' lounge in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, where a ban on lighting up on the street in designated neighborhoods took effect in October.

The new lounge, "Smokers' style," is in the Akihabara electronics district, and Japan Tobacco Inc. officials say they are considering opening more such facilities in the future.

Situated in a street-level corner of an office building, the 140-sq.-meter room is equipped with eight tabletop air-cleaners and vending machines that offer soft drinks and smoking paraphernalia. Company officials said it can accommodate up to 50 smokers at a time.

Basically, it is a bigger version of smoking rooms at airports, but the operator is going for a fancier image, with jazz emanating from speakers and framed posters on the walls.

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