Many workers in Japan embrace smoking at office to puff their way up career ladder

For generations, “nommunication” – or drinking with colleagues after work – has been credited with fostering corporate spirit in Japanese firms, releasing office tensions and building close professional relationships.

Now, a new study suggests that despite the well-documented risks to health, smoking performs a similar function in the Japanese workplace.

The research by Clinic For, a Tokyo-based healthcare provider that offers a range of courses to help people stop smoking, on 521 patients found that lighting up helped 56 per cent of respondents to relieve stress and feel relaxed.

The findings, published last month, also showed the unhealthy habit assisted 54 per cent to “change the mood”, while 22 per cent said smoking improved “communication in the workplace”.

Drilling down into this segment revealed that 37 per cent said being with other smokers made it easier to discuss job-related issues and 29 per cent attributed the reduction in work stress to cigarette break.

Another 23 per cent said communal smoking facilitated contacts and beneficial relationships outside their usual workplace connections, and 16 per cent even claimed it helped them with changing jobs within a company or securing a promotion.

In total, 74 per cent said smoking sessions played a role in enhancing their networks and careers.

Shu, a 24-year-old agency worker for a multinational company in the hospitality sector, hoped that making the right contacts might lead to a permanent position with the firm.

“A lot of Japanese companies in the food and beverage sector use haizen staff because they are cheaper but all of us want the security of a full-time contract directly with the employer,” said Shu, who did not want his family name to be used.

“I used to smoke at