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A sanctuary in a hostile land. That's what Tokyo smokers got when Japan Tobacco Inc. rolled out a trailer that was remodeled for use as a free-smoking space.
Dubbed the SmoCar, the trailer is parked in a space in front of a big office building in Tokyo's central Chiyoda ward.
Smoking on the street was banned in the busy parts of the ward since last October, and a system of fines -- up to 0 for multiple offences -- began in November.
"I smoke pretty heavily so having this kind of space makes me happy," said 28-year-old Hirokazu Sato, who stopped by to take a puff inside the new smokers' paradise.
The 27-foot-long silver trailer does not come with any seats, but has counters equipped with ashtrays and room enough for around 20 smokers to puff away to their heart's content.
If the trailer gains popularity Japan Tobacco may introduce more of them, a JT official said.
Smokers welcomed the idea.
"It would become even easier to use if there were more of them and if they were placed near the train station," Sato said.
(Agencies)
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一片不友好的土地上終于有了一座避難所。這正是東京的煙民們所經歷的，因為日本煙草公司推出了一種由拖車改裝而成的自由吸煙室。
這輛名為"SomCar"的流動吸煙車就停在東京中心千代的一幢大型寫字樓前的空地上。
去年10月以來，在這個區的繁華地帶開始禁止吸煙。從11月開始，有關部門還出臺了罰款措施，對屢教不改者罰款金額達170美元。
28歲的宏一佐都正準備走進這煙民的天堂抽上幾口過過癮，他說："我的煙癮很重，這樣的流動吸煙室讓我感覺好多了。"
這輛銀色的拖車長27英尺，里面不設座位，取而代之的是安裝了煙灰缸的柜臺，可以容納20個人左右。他們可以在這里盡情地吞云吐霧。
日本煙草公司的一位官員說，如果這樣的拖車受歡迎，他們將推出更多的同類產品。
癮君子們對此自然是舉雙手贊成。
佐都說："如果有更多這種吸煙車，并且能夠設在火車站附近，用起來就更方便了。"
（中國日報網站譯）
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Updated: 2003-01-27 01:00
