Bold color and playful cartoon energy carry the message in this October 1980 artwork: a cheerful monkey character hoists an oversized cigarette like a trophy, turning temptation into something almost ridiculous. Japanese text arcs across the blue sky, reading “タバコなんか吸うモンキー!”—a punny, kid-friendly admonition that essentially tells you not to smoke. The clouds and simple shapes keep the mood light, even as the subject points to a serious shift in public attitudes toward tobacco.
Down in the corner, a speech-bubble notice spells out the practical rule: “禁煙タイム” (non-smoking time), with hours listed for morning and evening (7:00–9:30 and 17:00–19:00). That detail hints at a public space or transit setting where smoking wasn’t banned outright yet, but regulated by schedule—an in-between era when etiquette, signage, and time windows did the work that later blanket prohibitions would take over. The design is unmistakably instructional, yet it relies on charm rather than scolding to nudge behavior.
Seen today, “No smoking during non-smoking hours” reads like a snapshot of how public health messaging evolved—especially in Japan’s visual culture, where mascots and wordplay often softened civic reminders. As a historical photo of graphic design and social regulation, it’s a useful reference for anyone researching anti-smoking campaigns, public signage, or everyday life in the late 20th century. The poster’s bright palette and memorable character make the rule hard to ignore, which is exactly what good public information art was meant to do.