Photo/Illutration The municipal assembly of Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, meets on Sept. 22 to approve measures encouraging residents to limit daily recreational smartphone use to under two hours. (Yoshinobu Matsunaga)

TOYOAKE, Aichi Prefecture–To combat addiction to social media, games and other online content, the municipal assembly here approved an ordinance encouraging residents to limit their smartphone use to no more than two hours per day.

The nonbinding guideline, passed by a majority vote on Sept. 22, is the first of its kind in Japan to target all citizens, not just children.

To take effect on Oct. 1, the ordinance calls for no smartphone use after 9 p.m. for elementary school children. It also recommends that other students under 18 lock their screens by 10 p.m.

Its primary goal is to encourage families to discuss and set rules at home to reduce excessive online time and ensure adequate sleep.

Smartphone use for work and study is exempt under the guidelines. Online games played with family and friends are also permitted, as they are considered to promote healthier recreational habits and social interaction.

Following implementation, the city’s educational board plans to provide consultation support for parents and conduct surveys to assess progress in family rule-setting and sleep habits.

The push for the ordinance began after concerns were raised by parents of children who refused to attend school, with suspected excessive smartphone use linked to their social withdrawal.

Since the draft was released on Aug. 20, the city fielded about 320 opinions via phone and email, including objections to government intervention in personal lives.

“The phrase 'two hours' has been misunderstood and oversimplified,” Mayor Masafumi Koki said. “The ordinance is intended to prompt families to self-check usage habits and discuss rules to secure sufficient sleep.”

Critics voiced concerns that a public consultation should have been conducted. They also questioned the scientific basis linking school truancy to smartphone overuse.

During the assembly meeting, supporters emphasized the importance of post-implementation measures, including sufficient communication with residents, periodic reviews to assess the ordinance’s impact and revisions as necessary.

These proposals were adopted alongside the ordinance.

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