ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
Society

60 minutes: Young gamers in Japan face cap on playtime

Kagawa Prefecture takes aim at addiction with daily limit

The World Health Organization recognized "gaming disorder" as a type of addiction last year. (Photo by Shogo Matsuda)

TAKAMATSU, Japan -- A prefecture in southwestern Japan will seek to limit kids to an hour of video games a day under a new ordinance set to take effect April 1, amid growing alarm about the risk of addiction.

The measure enacted this week by Kagawa Prefecture, the first of its kind in the country, sets "targets" of 60 minutes per day on weekdays and 90 minutes on weekends and holidays for all children under 18. It also recommends smartphone curfews of 9 p.m. through middle school and 10 p.m. thereafter.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more