The Takamatsu District Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of a local ordinance placing limits on video game play as a means to combat gaming addiction, rejecting a lawsuit by a man and his mother who sought damages for alleged violations of their right to self-determination.
Implemented in Kagawa Prefecture in April 2020, the ordinance set guidelines on when and for how long children would be allowed to play games. It was the first ordinance of its kind to be implemented in Japan.
The plaintiffs sought ¥1.6 million ($11,550) in damages from the prefectural government, saying the ordinance violated Article 13 of the Constitution — which guarantees their right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness — and had caused mental distress.