Cell Phone Etiquette in Japan

The "keitai" or cell phone culture in Japan resemble cell phone culture in the West. Text messaging, taking pictures, and other phone features coincide with daily life resulting in a few rules of keitai etiquette.

Poor Etiquette

Millions of Japanese use cell phones, which lead to poor etiquette initially. For example, shouting into the phone on crowded trains disturbed other passengers.

Manner Mode

Messages play on Japanese trains asking people to put their phones on silent, or as the Japanese call it "manner mode." Texting continues to be extremely popular in Japan because of this and a very low text rate cost.

Driving

Japanese law prohibits driving a car or riding a bicycle while using a cell phone. Furthermore, it cautions against walking while using the phone to avoid annoying other pedestrians.

Pictures

Do not take pictures at shows and performances, as it is not allowed. When taking pictures outside of these places, use discretion and respect other people's privacy.

Hospitals and Elderly

Japanese cell phone etiquette requires cell phones turned off when around the elderly on public transportation or in hospitals. Doing so avoids disrupting medical equipment, for example, pacemakers, with the cell phone's electromagnetic waves.

Airplanes

The same rule for hospitals applies to cell phone use on airplanes as well and for the same reasons. Ignoring the rule may cause penalization by law.

References

• Japanese Cell Phone Culture
• Mobile Phone Manners in Japan
• Trends in Japan--Phone Problems

Resources

• Textually.org " Manners Police Hit Japan Metros"
• Trends in Japan--Cell Phones