Entertainment
Japan city proposes two-hour daily smartphone limit
TOKYO: A Japanese city will urge all smartphone users to limit screen time to two hours a day outside work or school under a proposed ordinance that includes no penalties.
The limit — which will be recommended for all residents in central Japan’s Toyoake City — will not be binding and there will be no penalties incurred for higher usage, according to the draft ordinance.
The proposal aims “to prevent excessive use of devices causing physical and mental health issues… including sleep problems,” mayor Masafumi Koki said in a statement on Friday.
The draft urges elementary school students to avoid smartphones after 9:00pm, and junior high students and older are advised not to use them after 10:00pm.
The move prompted an online backlash, with many calling the plan unrealistic.
“I understand their intention, but the two-hour limit is impossible,” one user wrote on social media platform X.
“In two hours, I cannot even read a book or watch a movie (on my smartphone),” wrote another.
Others said smartphone use should be a decision for families to make themselves.
The angry response prompted the mayor to clarify that the two-hour limit was not mandatory, emphasising that the guidelines “acknowledge smartphones are useful and indipensable in daily life”.
The ordinance will be considered next week, and if passed, it will come into effect in October.
In 2020, western Kagawa region issued a first-of-its kind ordinance calling for children to be limited to an hour a day of gaming during the week, and 90 minutes during school holidays.
It also suggested children aged 12 to 15 should not be allowed to use smartphones later than 9:00pm, with the limit rising to 10:00pm for children between 15 and 18.
Japanese youth spend slightly over five hours on average a day online on weekdays, according to a survey published in March by the Children and Families Agency.
Strictly Come Dancing is facing a big shake-up after beloved hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped away from the show.
With the programme looking for fresh energy, reports say that comedian and actress Miranda Hart is in talks to join.
Fans might remember Miranda from her hit sitcom and from cheering on her friend Sarah Hadland during last year’s series.
Sources, however, said that she could bring her funny, warm personality to the show, talking to the celebs, dancers and judges, helping to keep the programme lively and entertaining.
Even though Miranda spent recent years enjoying a quieter life away from the spotlight, she has never lost her connection to television.
BBC bosses apparently see her humour as a perfect fit for the role, bringing the kind of lightness and charm that viewers loved in the past.
While nothing is confirmed yet, insiders are excited about the possibility.
If it happens, it could mark a new chapter for Strictly Come Dancing, mixing familiar comedy with the glitz and glamour of the dance floor.
Fans are waiting to see if Miranda’s easygoing style will breathe new life into the show.
Trevor Oakes, guitarist who helped make Showaddywaddy famous all over the world, has died at the age of 79 after fighting bravely with a long illness.
The icon passed away peacefully on February 18, leaving all of his fans and friends heartbroken.
Trevor’s former bandmate Dave Bartram paid a touching tribute for him, calling him “a unique character and a dedicated professional” who played a huge part in the band’s success.
Trevor was there from the very start, helping the band bring back songs from the 1950s and 1960s for a new generation.
Showaddywaddy, however, then got Top 10 hits, including the number one song Under the Moon of Love in 1976.
Dave remembered him as not just a talented musician but also a loving family man with a cheeky sense of humour, saying that he will be “sadly missed by all those dear to him.”
Though Trevor stepped away from performing in 2009 due to health problems, his spirit and influence stayed with the band, which continues to tour today under Dave’s management.
Only one original member remains on stage but Trevor’s energy and love for music live on in every show.
Fans, moreover, will always remember him for the joy, laughter and music he shared over years.
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