[Intl-tobacco] Japan: halving smoking more popular than govt admits

[Robert Weissman]

Ministry fudged findings of smoking panel
 Japan Today, 2002-02-23 

TOKYO — The number of members of a
government panel who supported setting a goal to halve Japan's
smoking rate may actually have been greater than the figure released
by the health ministry two years ago, a private study group said
Friday.

Hyogoken Kitsuen Mondai Kenkyukai (the Hyogo Prefecture smoking
study group) said the former Health and Welfare Ministry released
figures showing more people were opposed to the reduction target
than actually were, and the plan was eventually scrapped. (Kyodo
News)