Japan Tobacco accused of marketing to girls at World Cup volleyball

The Washington Times ^ | November 24, 2011 | Christopher Johnson

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

TOKYO — Anti-smoking campaigners in Japan are accusing one of the world’s leading tobacco companies of marketing products to teenage girls at World Cup volleyball events here.

Japan Tobacco’s logo (JT) is on the national team uniforms, court-side digital billboards, TV ads and “gift” packages handed out to schoolgirls, mothers and children entering Yoyogi National Stadium and arenas across Japan during the World Cup, which runs until Dec. 4.

While the United States, European Union and other industrialized countries have long banned tobacco companies from sponsoring sporting events, Japan Tobacco has been a major promoter of volleyball, helping to make the sport popular among schoolgirls. Japan has hosted every World Cup since 1977, and three of the last four world championships.

Japan Tobacco also sponsors a national team starring the country’s top player, Yoshie Takeshita.

About 10 percent of Japanese women smoke, compared with 40 percent of men, according to government estimates. Japan's national team players, idolized by millions of Japanese schoolgirls, wear Japan Tobacco logos and play before Japan Tobacco digital billboards ads in a win over the United States at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 18, 2011. (Christopher Johnson/Special to The Washington Times)Japan’s national team players, idolized by millions of Japanese schoolgirls, wear Japan Tobacco logos and play before Japan Tobacco digital billboards ads in a win over the United States at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 18, 2011. (Christopher Johnson/Special to The Washington Times)

Anti-smoking activists have long accused Japanese volleyball groups of promoting tobacco use, and say JT is targeting young women.

[hfr]

Who said something like, “God save us from those who would help us”? Or did someone once say, “Do gooders do no good.”

[ichabod1]

Or, they were doing good, and by doing good, they were doing very well indeed.

[EyeGuy]

Just like when I hear the name “Al Gore”, I run to flush my government-mandated, low water volume toilet, everytime I hear the odious phrase “anti-tobacco activists” I fire up a fat, black, tasty Maduro.