Sumohara - what do you reckon this word refers to?

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri article on "Smoking Harassment"

Anyone heard this word before?

While many people refrain from smoking around their superiors, many freely smoke in front of their subordinates.

This is indicative of a new concept--smoking harassment, known as "sumohara" in Japanese--in which smoking habits are affected by vertical relationships within the workplace.

...survey results showed 58 percent of nonsmokers were unable to tell their bosses not to smoke.

[AssKissinger]

I thought this was gonna be some kind of fat joke.

[Socratesabroad]

FWIW, AK, I was guessing harassment of sumo wrestlers, you know attacks on all the Mongolian FGs that are beating the loincloths off they're local competitors...

[cstaylor]

Yomiuri article on "Smoking Harassment"

Anyone heard this word before?

While many people refrain from smoking around their superiors, many freely smoke in front of their subordinates.

This is indicative of a new concept--smoking harassment, known as "sumohara" in Japanese--in which smoking habits are affected by vertical relationships within the workplace.

...survey results showed 58 percent of nonsmokers were unable to tell their bosses not to smoke.

That's what Army surplus stores are for... a good charcoal-based gasmask should do the trick nicely.

[kamome]

I thought "smoking harrassment" would be the term smokers use to describe the backlash against them by non-smokers. As in, "Damn, that outdoor smoking ban in Chiyoda-ku is blatant smoking harrassment".

By the way, has everyone noticed that Hachiko in Shibuya now has smoking booths? The area around the dog statue is non-smoking!

[dingosatemybaby]

I thought "smoking harrassment" would be the term smokers use to describe the backlash against them by non-smokers. As in, "Damn, that outdoor smoking ban in Chiyoda-ku is blatant smoking harrassment".

By the way, has everyone noticed that Hachiko in Shibuya now has smoking booths? The area around the dog statue is non-smoking!

The times, they are a-changing. But JT's fighting back. Has anyone seen that seriously lame-ass gift shop they have in the lobby of their HQ bldg. in Toranomon? It's right next to the Smo-car and it's got a big sign on the wall that says, "For Lover of Smoker Only."