Osaka:Cigarette littering remains a significant issue in Minami, a popular entertainment district in Osaka, Japan. Despite a citywide ban on street smoking, the problem persists, particularly on streets lined with restaurants and frequented by tourists and young people.

According to Thai News Agency, a deadly fire last year, believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette butt, has prompted the city government and private organizations to increase efforts to establish more designated smoking areas. The issue of cigarette littering is particularly severe in Minami compared to other districts, with the Osaka prefectural restaurant sanitation association recording 4,284 discarded butts in June 2025, far exceeding numbers in other major cities.

A citywide ban on street smoking has been in effect since January last year, with fines for violators. Despite this, littering remains a problem, exacerbated by limited smoking areas. The Osaka city government has been active in creating designated smoking areas, establishing about 350 locations, including 50 in Minami, with plans for 12 more by March.

Local private groups have also joined the effort, with the Osaka Confederation of Shopping Arcade Councils helping install 70 smoking areas in 20 shopping arcades. A survey indicated a reduction in littering in areas where smoking spots were added. The confederation highlights the risk of fire from cigarette littering as an urgent concern, urging for more widespread smoking area placements.