Bubbles in Lieu of Cigarettes

Japanese Smoking Pastime Combated with Bubbles

At the height of smoking in Japan, as many as 80 percent of the men smoked. That figure is double what American's saw during the height of tobacco use. For many in Japan, smoking is more than a bad habit or an addiction, it is an integral part of their way of life, especially where conversing is concerned.

Anti-smoking activist Bungaku Watanbe stated, "It's not that Japanese love smoking so much, it's that tobacco has been a pillar of Japanese national policy." The third-largest tobacco company, Japan Tobacco, is located near Government offices. The company is majority-owned by the government and lobbying has successfully warded off most legislature aimed at banning smoking.

In Japan, it is estimated that $90 billion is spent yearly on cigarette-related health costs and damages. That figure is more than three times the annual tobacco sales in the country according to the Japan Health Economics Association. To compare, in Japan, approximately 1/3 of all men smoke where the US figures state approximately 1/4 of males use cigarettes. With lung cancer rates spiking, positive anti-smoking legislature and bans are making headway.

As are bubbles.

Mina Abe and Kota Osabe are promoting a quirky alternative to cigarettes. Together, they stand in former smoking sections with an ashtray filled with a bubble solution, holding green plastic pipes, and blow bubbles. The duo stated they were not looking to provide a means to wean smokers from their addiction, but rather offer an alternative that allows conversation to carry on with similar behaviors accustomed to Japanese smokers.

Mina Abe stated, "You have to be in that community of smoking people to be able to reach out to important people. It's really a tool to get to the people you want to talk to. So you don't really want to smoke, but you feel like you have to be smoking in order to be a member of that kind of community." Hima Furuta agrees that without props, shy Japanese often have a hard time breaking the ice with others.

While we are accustomed to alternatives and a lifestyle where smoking is frowned upon, other countries are not. The health implications noted in Japan are reflective of what the United States could be experiencing if it weren't for smoking bans and legislation that is geared towards protecting our citizens. However, we do have alternatives to cigarettes that allow people to mimic smoking without the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure.

What are your thoughts on using bubbles instead of cigarettes for conversation?