The smoker's picture will be on the card, although the vending machines will not be able to read the images, so they won't be able to tell if the customer is legitimate.

The Tobacco Institute, whose members include Japan's three tobacco companies including the biggest, Japan Tobacco Inc, spent 90 billion yen ($780 million) on the machines and says it hopes the new system will prevent minors from smoking.

Another stated aim is to raise awareness among adults to keep cigarettes away from children.

"Without the cooperation of parents and teachers, our industry cannot prevent problems like adults buying cigarettes and giving them to minors," said Kazuyuki Kobayashi, general manager at the institute.

"We hope that parents and teachers make an effort at home and in schools to prevent minors from smoking," he told reporters.

he number of underage smokers has been on the decline, but a Health Ministry survey in 2004 showed 13 percent of boys and 4 percent of girls in the third year of high school -- those aged 17 to 18 -- smoked every day.

The proportion of Japanese adults who smoke has slipped to 26 percent from 34 percent a decade ago and a peak of 49 percent in 1966, Japan Tobacco said this week.

The company, half-owned by the government, said a pilot program for the new vending machines in rural Japan had no impact on sales.

($1=115.14 Yen)