The Japan Times Weekly 4

★【Worsening gaming addictions】
Gaming addictions have increased in Japan, according to recent reports from counseling services and treatment centers.

【ゲーム依存症の深刻化】
相談窓口や治療機関からの報告から、日本でゲーム依存症が日本で増えていることがわかった。


★Summary
     Online gamining addictions have increased in Japan and counseling services have received hundreds of requests for consultation over the past year. The expanding popularity of online social gaming is one reason for increading of gaming addictions. Medical researchers, treatment facilities and counselors consider gaming addiction a clinical syndrome. If players play games for extended periods, they suffer from poor health, bad nutrition and a lack of physical movement. The Consumer Affairs Agency began to regulate online social gaming this year. However, the regulation is only first step. We need to regulate time limits and usage.


★Reflection
     Online games are very popular in Japan. A lot of online game commercials are broadcasted everyday. However, we need to consider our health and should play the games moderately.


★Vocabulary
addiction 熱中、常用；accelerate 拍車をかける；devastate 荒れる；regulate 規制する；addict　依存する


★Reference
The Japan Times Weekly, November 17, 2012