Japan is due to introduce an amendment to its Health Promotion Law on April 1, along with new regulations to reduce the incidence of passive smoking ©Getty Images

Japan Sport Olympic Square, one of the major administrative hubs for Tokyo 2020, will become completely smoke-free from next year, it has been announced.

As reported by Kyodo News, the Japanese Olympic Committee and Japan Sport Association, which share the Japan Sport Olympic Square with several other sporting bodies, announced the smoking room will be removed from the building on April 1.

The move, according to the two organisations, is aimed at "preventing health damage from passive smoking and establishing a healthy working environment".

It is also hoped it will improve the image of Japan's sporting bodies.

It is still legal to smoke in many public places in Japan, despite the introduction of new legislation ©Getty Images
It is still legal to smoke in many public places in Japan, despite the introduction of new legislation ©Getty Images

In February, Tokyo 2020 confirmed that smoking will not be allowed at any venues being used for next year's Olympics and Paralympics.

The ban will extend to heated tobacco products and other vaping devices.

Japanese organisers had previously considered prohibiting smoking inside the buildings where events will be held, while setting up smoking areas on venue grounds for spectators and staff, but they ultimately opted to ban it altogether.

Japan is due to introduce an amendment to its Health Promotion Law on April 1, along with new regulations to reduce the incidence of passive smoking.