Japan city passes ordinance capping screen time to 2 hours

The ordinance, aimed at preventing excessive use of smartphones, personal computers and tablet devices, was approved by a majority vote at a plenary session of the assembly.

It will take effect October 1.

Toyoake became the first municipality in Japan to introduce an ordinance asking all residents to limit their use of smartphones.

The Toyoake local law serves as guidance and does not apply to the use of such devices for study, work or household chores.

There are no penalties for violators.

"We're not rejecting smartphones," Toyoake Mayor Masafumi Kouki told reporters.

He said the ordinance is only part of the city's measures on resident health and the aim was for residents to see whether they are losing sleep by using smartphones too much.

The ordinance is also designed to increase conversations within families.

It calls for refraining from using smartphones and other gadgets after 9:00 pm for elementary school students and younger children, and after 10:00 pm for junior high school students and others under 18.

Some residents have argued that the municipality should not meddle in family matters while others have taken the move by the assembly as an opportunity for discussions with family members.

The municipal assembly also adopted a supplementary resolution calling on the city to review the ordinance when necessary, after examining its effects and residents' opinions on a regular basis.