Pro-smoking Japanese lawmaker apologises for heckling cancer patient

TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese member of parliament apologised on Thursday for jeering a lung cancer patient testifying about the dangers of secondhand smoke, saying he had spoken out to prevent discrimination against smokers.

Japan lags many countries in efforts to fight smoking, with attempts to tackle tobacco often stymied by pro-smoking politicians, restaurateurs and Japan Tobacco, which is one-third owned by the government.