A local assembly has passed Japan's first ordinance aimed at reducing internet and video game addiction among young people, by recommending that screen time be limited to one hour per day.

The ordinance, passed Wednesday by the Kagawa Prefectural Assembly, has triggered controversy — with critics saying it is overly prescriptive for parents — despite it having no enforcement mechanism.

Taro Yamada, a House of Councilors member well-versed in the impact of internet usage and freedom of speech, criticized the ordinance as "nonsense," saying it only targets usage time and does not account for how integrated and essential digital devices have become in children's lives.