Toyoake City in central Japan has proposed a non-binding ordinance encouraging all residents to limit smartphone use to two hours daily outside work or school, aiming to address health concerns linked to excessive screen time. The draft, announced on August 22, 2025, has sparked online debate over its feasibility.

Mayor Masafumi Koki stated the guideline seeks “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues, including sleep problems.” The proposal recommends elementary school students avoid smartphones after 9:00 p.m. and junior high students and older after 10:00 p.m., with no penalties for non-compliance. “Smartphones are useful and indispensable in daily life,” Koki clarified, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the limit following public backlash.

Critics on platforms like X called the two-hour cap unrealistic. “In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie,” one user posted. Others argued smartphone use should be a family decision. A March 2025 survey by Japan’s Children and Families Agency found youth spend over five hours daily online on weekdays, highlighting the challenge of reducing screen time.

If approved next week, the ordinance will take effect in October. The move follows a 2020 Kagawa region ordinance limiting children’s gaming to one hour on weekdays and 90 minutes during holidays, with similar nighttime restrictions. Supporters of Toyoake’s proposal view it as a step toward healthier habits, while opponents question its practicality in a digital age.