Japan Tobacco said Monday it will recall some 40,000 giveaway ashtrays it distributed in northern, western and southwestern Japan regions as they may be susceptible to heat damage from burning cigarettes.

Subject to the recall are ashtrays that the company distributed from May at 2,700 convenience stores of Lawson in Hokkaido and other 20 prefectures in the Tohoku, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions.
Although the attached instructions warn users to extinguish cigarettes completely before disposal, the company decided to make the voluntary recall after two reports of the ashtrays losing shape and warping due to heat from cigarettes, it said. (pi)