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Fri, Aug 21, 2026 page4
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‘Chainsmoker Cat’ anime draws parental concern
LEGAL ISSUES?
A Health Promotion Administration official said images from the show might contravene Article 12 of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act
- By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA
Chainsmoker Cat (尼古喵喵), an anime show, might contravene the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) by promoting smoking, the John Tung Foundation said yesterday, adding that it has submitted a formal complaint.
Lin Ching-li (林清麗), head of the foundation’s tobacco hazard prevention center, said that it received complaints from parents that the entire show was about smoking.
While it does show the benefits of quitting, from about 3 minutes, 56 seconds into the first episode, multiple tobacco brands are given intentional closeups, Lin said.
A woman watches the anime Chainsmoker Cat on a streaming platform yesterday.
The show depicts the main character, a cat person named Yaniko, taking several cigarettes from a box to make room for a lighter, Lin said, adding that such scenes attempt to highlight and promote tobacco brands and establish the image that smoking is good.
Lo Su-ying (羅素英), head of the Health Promotion Administration’s Tobacco Control Division, said that images from the anime published by media platforms might be in contravention of Article 12 of the act.
The agency has asked local health departments to investigate the issue, Lo said, adding that if the accusations are shown to be true, the media platforms could be fined a maximum of NT$1 million (US$31,323).
Former Consumers’ Foundation chairman You Kai-hsiung (游開雄) said that Article 12 specifically bans the promotion of tobacco products through television, movies, recordings, the Internet and other methods.
The digital age has increased the avenues to promote products, You said, adding that the authorities should not allow entertainment to be a protective umbrella for tobacco promotion.
Action Alliance on Basic Education president Wang Han-yang (王瀚陽) said that the Hong Kong Department of Health has banned the series on the grounds that it contravened Hong Kong’s Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance.
Inaction by Taiwan’s government might send the wrong message that Taiwan allows tobacco products to be promoted as long as they are packaged in entertainment content, Wang said.
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