An ordinance that bans the use of searchlights and laser beams, aimed at protecting starry nights for tourists and residents, was enacted Thursday in Tottori Prefecture in what appears to be the first of its kind at a prefectural level.
The ordinance, adopted by a majority vote at the Tottori Prefectural Assembly, bans the use of floodlights outdoors when they are not directed at a specific object. The use of such lights for purposes such as disaster prevention is still permitted.
Areas offering the best views of the night sky have been designated as "starry sky preservation areas" under the ordinance, with stricter rules set for the installation and use of lighting apparatus in those areas.