While Pokémon Go isn’t yet out in Japan, the country’s bureaucrats are already warning people about necessary safety precautions.
As reported by The Japan Times, where I am a columnist, the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) under the Cabinet Office put out a nine-point bulletin warning people of possible problems surrounding the game. Most of it is rather sensible, and the government is asking people to share this info with other players, especially younger ones.
The warning recommended that players protect their privacy by not using their real names or posting photos of or near their homes, bring a backup battery in case they need to contact someone in an emergency, avoid getting heatstroke during the hot weather and stay out of dangerous areas.
“In countries where the game has already been launched, various incidents have been reported, including users getting run over by a car, falling into a pond, getting bitten by a snake and getting robbed,” wrote the NISC (via The Japan Times).
It also warned of fake apps, cheat tools, and walking while using one’s phone. In the past, people have accidentally walked off train platforms in Japan, so that last one is a very real concern.
“We are worried that enthused users could get into trouble or in accidents,” JR West President Tatsuo Kijima told the paper. “Use of smartphones while walking is a major cause of accidents on train platforms. We have asked passengers, over and over again, not to use smartphones while walking.”
The bulletin also advised players to download a weather app to check the day’s forecast.
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