When you buy cigarettes in Japan...
Such a controversial system of cigarette vending machines has been recently started throughout Japan.
You might have seen many cigarette vending machines on the steet in Japan. We still have them.
But, if the machine says something in Japanese to you next time you try to buy cigarettes from a machine, it is saying "show me your TASPO."
You need your own TASPO card to verify your age when you buy a box of cigarettes from a machine. The goal of the system is to prevent underage smoking, but many people doubt if it will make any difference.
Our oni-chan (Tsuyoshi) smokes but hasn't applied for a TASPO card yet. He has to go to a store to buy cigarrets now altough he used to buy them from the nearest vending machines on the street. I hope it will make him smoke less or quit it.