Japan on Wednesday approved its first national legislation banning smoking inside of public facilities, but the watered-down measure excludes many restaurants and bars and is seen as toothless.
The legislation aims to lower secondhand smoking risks ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid international calls for a smoke-free Games. But ruling party lawmakers with strong ties to the tobacco and restaurant industries opted for a weakened version.
The upper house approved and enacted the bill into law on Wednesday after it was approved by the lower house.
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