Police in Hokkaido have arrested a 68-year-old man for obstruction of business and destruction of property after he caused a train service to be suspended over his refusal to stop smoking.

According to police and JR officials, the incident occurred at around 2:40 p.m. Monday on a limited express train bound for Kushiro from Sapporo.

TV Asahi reported that the man, Yoji Nishimura, began smoking a cigarette inside the train car. When he was asked to stop by a conductor, he became enraged and broke a seat-back table.

The train made an emergency stop at Urahoro Station where it remained for about 90 minutes while police conducted an investigation.

Nishimura was quoted by police as saying he had no recollection of the incident and denied all charges.

© Japan Today