Japanese restaurants are increasingly banning the use of smartphones during meal times, eliciting the legal opinion of a known attorney. The move aims to preserve the culture of communicating and enjoying food together without digital distractions. There's yet no broad consensus on the issue, some patrons and legal scholars argue it infringes on personal rights, while many others appreciate the enhancing effect on social interaction.

Food and mealtime in Japan is often seen as not just a requirement but an important social bonding activity. The society highly values etiquette, respect, and preservation of traditional customs. The increasing use of smartphones at the dining table is viewed by many as a breach of these values. However, there are differing views on whether the decision should be left to individual discretion or mandated by restaurants.

While there's no formal rule prohibiting smartphone usage at the dining table in the US or EU, it's generally discouraged as bad manners. In contrast, Japan is seeing more explicit bans by restaurants. The legal aspect of such bans is less prevalent in Western countries.