August 23, 2025 | 09:27 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The city of Toyoake in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, has announced a new and controversial plan: to limit the use of smartphones and other electronic devices for all residents to just two hours per day. The regulation is also intended for adults.
The draft regulation will be submitted to the city council meeting next week. If passed, the rule will take effect on October 1, according to Japan Today, Friday, August 22, 2025. The regulation limits residents to a maximum of two hours per day of use of mobile phones, tablets, gaming devices, and computers. Exceptions are provided for work and study purposes.
Not the First Time
This is not the first time in Japan. In 2020, Kagawa Prefecture enacted a similar regulation, but it was only aimed at children. The difference this time is that Toyoake aims to apply it to all residents, including the city's more than 68,000 adult inhabitants.
The Mayor of Toyoake, Masafumi Koki, stated that the main intention of this policy is to encourage healthier use of digital devices. He is concerned that excessive use can disrupt the rhythm of life, impact health, and diminish the quality of family interactions.
The regulation also proposes that elementary school children should not use electronic devices after 9 p.m., while children aged 15 to 18 are given until 10 p.m.
This proposal comes amid findings from the Japanese Children and Family Agency that teenagers in the country spend an average of over five hours online each school day.
A Cacophony of Criticism
However, the public has criticized this policy. Many Japanese citizens question the effectiveness of this rule. On social media, netizens have called this policy "unreasonable," "too controlling," and even "irrelevant to the modern society that heavily relies on digital technology."
The criticism also comes from those who argue that this rule ignores the current social reality. Many adults live alone or far from their families, using smartphones as their main way to stay connected. Furthermore, the regulation seems inconsistent because it focuses solely on digital devices while ignoring other activities that can influence lifestyles, such as watching TV, gambling, and alcohol consumption.
After facing strong reactions from the public, Mayor Masafumi Koki clarified that this rule is merely a guideline, not a mandatory rule accompanied by penalties. He emphasized that they still recognize the benefits and importance of smartphones in modern life.
It remains uncertain whether this regulation will be officially enacted, as it is still pending the outcome of the city council meeting next week. However, Toyoake has reopened the national discourse on digital boundaries, mental health, and the government's role in regulating the personal lives of its residents.
KINAR LAIMAURA
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