Toyoake, a small city in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, is making global headlines for an unusual experiment: urging residents to limit smartphone use to just two hours a day outside of work or school. The proposal, while not legally binding, reflects growing concerns about how excessive screen time may be harming physical and mental health.
The Two-Hour Guideline
According to the Japan Times , the draft ordinance recommends all residents cap their non-essential smartphone use at two hours daily. Children are given stricter rules: elementary students should avoid screens after 9 p.m., while junior high students and older should put their phones away after 10 p.m.
Toyoake Mayor Masafumi Koki explained the move as a way “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues, including sleep problems.” Importantly, he stressed that this is guidance, not enforcement. No fines, no penalties—just a nudge to rethink habits.
Backlash From the Public
The announcement sparked intense debate online. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) ridiculed the plan as impractical. One commenter wrote, “In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie on my smartphone.” Others argued that screen use should remain a family decision, not a citywide directive.
By the following Monday, city officials had already received more than 100 calls and emails, with about 70 percent expressing opposition, reported VICE.
Lessons From Kagawa’s Controversial Ban
This is not Japan’s first attempt at screen-time regulation. In 2020, Kagawa Prefecture introduced an ordinance limiting children to one hour of gaming on weekdays and 90 minutes during school holidays. The measure drew criticism at the time, but it also spotlighted Japan’s growing unease over digital addiction.
National surveys echo those concerns. The Children and Families Agency found earlier this year that Japanese youth spend an average of over five hours online each weekday.
A Symbolic Step or a Cultural Shift?
Critics say Toyoake’s ordinance will likely be ignored. Without penalties, it risks becoming “a set of words that take up space,” as VICE put it. Still, supporters see value in even symbolic efforts to spark conversations about digital wellness.
Mayor Koki insists the aim is not surveillance or control, but reflection: encouraging residents to prioritize sleep, health, and face-to-face relationships.
From Silicon Valley to Tokyo, societies are wrestling with how to balance the conveniences of technology with the risks of overuse. While Toyoake’s proposal may seem extreme, it reflects a universal question: How much screen time is too much?
The Two-Hour Guideline
According to the Japan Times , the draft ordinance recommends all residents cap their non-essential smartphone use at two hours daily. Children are given stricter rules: elementary students should avoid screens after 9 p.m., while junior high students and older should put their phones away after 10 p.m.
Toyoake Mayor Masafumi Koki explained the move as a way “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues, including sleep problems.” Importantly, he stressed that this is guidance, not enforcement. No fines, no penalties—just a nudge to rethink habits.
Backlash From the Public
The announcement sparked intense debate online. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) ridiculed the plan as impractical. One commenter wrote, “In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie on my smartphone.” Others argued that screen use should remain a family decision, not a citywide directive.
By the following Monday, city officials had already received more than 100 calls and emails, with about 70 percent expressing opposition, reported VICE.
Lessons From Kagawa’s Controversial Ban
This is not Japan’s first attempt at screen-time regulation. In 2020, Kagawa Prefecture introduced an ordinance limiting children to one hour of gaming on weekdays and 90 minutes during school holidays. The measure drew criticism at the time, but it also spotlighted Japan’s growing unease over digital addiction.
National surveys echo those concerns. The Children and Families Agency found earlier this year that Japanese youth spend an average of over five hours online each weekday.
A Symbolic Step or a Cultural Shift?
Critics say Toyoake’s ordinance will likely be ignored. Without penalties, it risks becoming “a set of words that take up space,” as VICE put it. Still, supporters see value in even symbolic efforts to spark conversations about digital wellness.
Mayor Koki insists the aim is not surveillance or control, but reflection: encouraging residents to prioritize sleep, health, and face-to-face relationships.
From Silicon Valley to Tokyo, societies are wrestling with how to balance the conveniences of technology with the risks of overuse. While Toyoake’s proposal may seem extreme, it reflects a universal question: How much screen time is too much?
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