There is a new hot topic of conversation round the workplace last week. That is, the inconvenience of the TASPO system for the smoking lots. It seems more than half of those smoking around our company didn’t apply for the TASPO. Everybody is complaining about the system, saying how dragging it is to write the form, enclose a picture, and a copy of one of their valid ID. The inconvenience is all the good for convenience stores which seems to reap more sales for cigarettes because they do not require smokers to have TASPO cards.

It seems that the vending machine lobbies will not be thwarted easily. Yesterday, while I was passing by Kawasaki Station’s underground passageway a TASPO booth has been set up to encourage TASPO latecomers to apply for the blue card. They’d even take the registration picture for free - very tempting indeed. Many people couldn’t resist the tempting offer and the booth was packed, there was even a line. I don’t know if they’re doing this all over Japan, but it seems so. See this video of TASPO booth in Osaka by this guy who seems to glorify tobacco and all things involve with it. “One of god’s greatest creations”. Wow, he really loves his cigarette huh.