Covering the economic and industrial might of Japan

I'm not talking about sales of Japan's Toyota or Nintendo's Wii...I'm talking about the average adult Japanese on the street.

Less Japanese are smoking. 

Just over one in four Japanese adults (26%) smoke now, down from 26.3% a year ago.

Men are lighting up less - 40.2% down from 41.3%.

More women are being stupid, however, up to 12.7% from 12.4%.

Still the overall trend is less smokers.

Growing health concerns and tighter regulations were credited for the decline.

Restaurants have more non smoking sections.

Trains are banning smoking in all but designated compartments.

Public facilities and hospitals are smoke-free.

Taxis are lining up to do the same.

Cigarette packs must have a warning on them.

18% of Americans smoke. 27% of British men and 24% of their women smoke.