A Fukuokan's Notes from Sapporo

                        JPY288 at a local chemist

This is sold as an OTC cough medicine, but I guess many people use this as a substitute for ‘real’ cigarettes because of the lower price.  The real ones cost more than JPY400 now (nearly 150% hike whereas our consumer prices have been going down for that past 18 months).

I determined not to give in the hike, or the stop-smoking craze, but the cost for nicotine directly hit my wallet. I must cut back the spending for cigarettes for the sake of second-hand books and canned coffee. Electric tobacco, which is claimed to be useful to smoke less, may be an option. But it would make me look even more air-headed, manipulated by a fad, if I smoked it outside my home.

Then, I came across this product, cheaper and look not as ridiculous as electric varieties, still containing some nicotine and tar.

In fact, the label instructs not to use this if you are a non-smoker or underage.

And, it warns that you can’t use this for stop-smoking purpose. However, it has recommended dose and claims effects on cough and sputum (would you like to smoke when your are coughing, by the way?). Very ambiguous—is this product a poison, or a medicine?