I’m now 41 years and 7 months old, and these days I practice piano.
The reason I started? To quit smoking.
For decades I had been a smoker, except for a few short breaks. In recent years I mainly smoked the type of e-cigarette called IQOS, which is especially popular in Japan. I wasn’t a heavy smoker, but I still went through about 10 -15 cigarettes a day.
By my mid-30s I was beginning to feel my body getting weaker, and I vaguely thought, “Maybe I’ll quit when I turn 40.” But I wasn’t confident. I had tried to quit before, and what I learned is that you need a strong, clear reason.
Just “for my health” wasn’t strong enough.
It wasn’t even because my wife—who was pregnant at one point—told me to stop.
When I tried quitting casually, I sometimes couldn’t even last a single day.
But somehow, I did succeed this time. In just one more month, it will be a full year without smoking.
Even I’m surprised, but I can identify a few key reasons why I succeeded.
The First Reason: Piano
I knew I needed a replacement—something to distract me when I felt the urge to smoke. That’s when I decided to start piano.
Why piano? Simply because I’ve always loved the sound of it. I thought if I focused on something I truly enjoyed, I could get through the cravings.
I had never taken piano lessons before, but my wife owned a MIDI keyboard, so I borrowed it. Since I couldn’t read sheet music, I started by watching YouTube tutorials and tried a simple-looking song.
After a few days of practice, I managed to play a short beginner-friendly arrangement of one verse.
But something felt off.
Then I realized:
This isn’t the song I want to play.
The song was “Sakura” by Japanese singer Naotaro Moriyama. It’s a good piece, but not one I felt personally excited about.
So I decided to search for something I really wanted to play.
At the time, I was deeply into Fujii Kaze’s music, so I looked through his songs and picked one that I thought would be fun.
(I’ve written more about his music in another post here.)
Even though I couldn’t read sheet music, I found videos with falling note bars that showed me which keys to press. I told myself, “I’m going to learn this one!” and started practicing.
Very quickly, I was crushed with despair.
It was far too difficult for a beginner. I couldn’t imagine moving my hands independently like that.
On top of that, my wife’s MIDI keyboard didn’t even have enough keys.
My motivation nearly broke, but I decided to commit—I bought a cheap full-sized 88-key digital piano.
With that new instrument, I restarted my practice. I slowed playback to 50%, rewound sections again and again, and tackled the song little by little.
It was extremely challenging, but practicing became genuinely fun. My progress was slow because of limited time, but steady. I realized: if you practice music you truly love, you can keep going. I became so absorbed that I could spend hours at the piano without even noticing.
And that, in turn, was incredibly effective in helping me quit smoking.
Of course, I couldn’t practice at work.
So what did I do then?
The Second Reason: Gratitude
It might sound crazy, but I thanked the cigarettes themselves. But I’ll write more about that another time.
Other reasons, like saving money or preparing for the birth of my child, played a part too, but honestly they weren’t the main drivers.
One Year Without Smoking
And so, the weeks turned into months: one month, six months, and soon it will be a full year.
Now, even when I’m around people who smoke, I don’t feel tempted.
Here are some of the benefits I’ve noticed:
- Saving money:
I used to spend about 10,000 yen (roughly $70 USD) per month on cigarettes. That money now stays in my pocket. - More time each day:
When I cut out my “routine” cigarette breaks, I suddenly had extra minutes throughout the day. - No need to search for smoking areas:
Japan is becoming less smoker-friendly, and I used to always worry about where to light up. Now I don’t need to think about it, and I no longer keep my wife waiting after meals. - No cigarettes to carry or buy:
I don’t have to worry about forgetting them when I go out or rushing to buy a pack when I run out. - Better digestion:
This one surprised me—my bowel movements became much healthier.
The one downside?:
Gaining weight. I put on about 5–6 kilograms. Maybe because my circulation improved and my body absorbed nutrients better. To counter this, I increased my exercise a bit and reduced my rice portions.
Piano Progress
After about six months, I memorized and could roughly play Fujii Kaze’s “Feelin’ Go(o)d.” I still make mistakes, but I’m confident I’ll get it perfect soon if I keep at it.
Now I’m working on another of his songs, “Yasashisa” (which means ‘Kindness’). I’ve already memorized it and I’m polishing it up. It’s not performance-ready yet, but someday I hope to share a video here.
Starting piano was truly one of the best choices I’ve made.
It’s amazing how the human brain works—sometimes I’d practice a tough passage, sleep, and wake up able to play it. Each small step brought joy, and immersing myself in Fujii Kaze’s beautiful chords has been deeply healing.
Most of all, I’m thrilled to have found a hobby I can continue into old age.
If you’re an “old guy” thinking it’s too late, trust me—it’s not! If you practice, you will be able to play.
And if you want to quit smoking, my advice is: find something you can throw yourself into. It makes all the difference.
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoy my posts, your support really motivates me ☕
