Do Japanese smoke a lot??

Yes and no. Japanese smoke more than Americans do, but less than they used to. The no-smoking movement began later in Japan than it did in the States. But Japanese are trying to catch up. They're designating more no-smoking areas in public places, and their cigarette packages carry the health-hazard warning.

Japanese are becoing sensitive to the issue. On the whole, they are trying to be more sensitive to others. Before lighting a cigarette, they might ask if anyone minds. In the past, this would have been rare. And the health concerns are there, many japanese have stopped smoking.

Non-smokers are not militant like in the States. Few Japanese would ask someone in a public place to put out a cigarette, and people aren't suing the tobacco companies.