Residents of Toyoake, a small Japanese city near Nagoya, are being urged to step away from their screens literally. A new local ordinance recommends adults and children alike limit their smartphone use to just two hours a day.
Mayor Masafumi Kouki, 56, says he’s alarmed by how digital devices have eroded face-to-face communication.
“Even on trains, everyone just stares at their phones and no one talks anymore,” he told AFP. “I wanted to create an opportunity for residents to reflect on whether they might be overusing their smartphones.”
The ordinance, passed by a 12–7 city council vote, carries no penalties and excludes work or study time. Instead, it aims to encourage voluntary self-regulation, a rare but symbolic step in tech-heavy Japan.
When first proposed, opposition was fierce. But attitudes shifted once residents realised the rule was more of a lifestyle guideline than a legal restriction.
Still, not everyone is convinced.
“It feels like an overreach,” said city lawmaker Mariko Fujie, who voted against the measure. “People should decide how to spend their free time.”
Young people have also voiced scepticism. “Everything from studying to hobbies happens on a smartphone,” said 22-year-old law student Shutaro Kihara. “It’s meaningless for us.”
Others, however, are taking the hint. Middle schooler Ikka Ito admitted he’s already cut back his screen time, though it means less chatting with friends.
The new ordinance also urges elementary pupils to avoid phones after 9 p.m., while older students should switch off by 10 p.m. The city hopes this will tackle sleep deprivation a chronic issue in Japan, where long work hours and late-night scrolling often keep citizens awake.
For 59-year-old resident Kokuka Hirano, the policy hits home. “I’m sleep-deprived because I can’t stop checking the news,” she said. “Time runs away from me.”
While some argue the two-hour cap is too strict, health experts say it’s a timely reminder. Research links heavy smartphone use to poor sleep, loneliness, anxiety and depression problems Japan’s overworked population knows too well.
Mayor Kouki’s own family is leading by example: his two children don’t own smartphones, and screens are banned at the dinner table.
“It’s not about punishment,” he said. “It’s about helping people find balance again.”
