For This Japanese Town, Limits to Smartphone Usage Mean Less Stress

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-08-28 13:58:24 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-28 20:15:22

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Hunting habits of Japanese youth are in the spotlight again as one town moves to restrict smartphone usage. Just how real are the benefits of reduced screen time?

Japan is no stranger to headlines about phone addiction and their impact on the country's youth. Less commonly, however, casual observation in major cities like Tokyo will reveal a culture that is increasingly obsessed with the outdoors and consciously limiting screen time, especially outdoors. This move by officials in Yamagata prefecture to become the first in the country to limit usage to just two hours a day in an attempt to counter so-called "death by overwork" underscores this trend.

The move has also drawn criticism on social media, with netizens believing it's impossible to use phones only for two hours a day. Experts believe that while the initiative itself might not be very effective, it brings attention to the stress many Japanese teenagers face when trying to juggle school, social lives, and workloads, and encourages a healthier balance.

It remains to be seen if similar restrictions will be adopted by other communities or regions, or even at the national level. With the continued proliferation of smartphones and an ever-increasing list of demands from work and school, striking a healthy balance will likely remain a challenge for Japanese society.

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