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Thursday April 2, 2009
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 I got a bit of cultural education at the CTIA 2009 show today, and I wanted to share it with you.
Over at the Fujitsu booth, they were showing off a bunch of stylish, waterproof phones. For some reason, the Japanese love waterproof phones. Sanyo has waterproof phones. Casio, as far as I know, invented the waterproof phone. So why are waterproof phones so popular in Japan?
"We like bath time," the Fujitsu guy explained. I later had this story backed up by someone from Casio.
Apparently, in Japan, folks spend a lot of time in the bath. Japanese bathtubs are much deeper and larger than American tubs, and they're more conducive to lounging around. Japanese folks swear by the health benefits of long, hot, frequent baths. Also, in a crowded society, the bath is one place you can get perfect privacy, and some peace and quiet.
So an entire waterproof offshoot of the consumer-electronics industry
has popped up: waterproof TVs, waterproof cell phones, and of course,
waterproof cell phones with TV capability. Because why should you have
to stop a nice, long soak to answer the phone? Makes perfect sense to
me.
That isn't the end of the story. Japanese people don't just
like baths, they also typically like features. So once water-fastness
started appearing on several phones, it became a standard feature
whether or not a phone is destined to be dunked, according to the
manufacturer reps.
Now, this may be old news to you if you know a lot about Japan. But I didn't, and heck - cultural differences are interesting.
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April 2, 2009 2:09 AM
Sascha, Yes, I've lived in Tokyo for the past 7 years and that is true, the bathing culture is a great way to lower stress, and stay healthy.
I really enjoy your podcast which helps me stay in touch with what is going on in the states. I think the devices and standards here in Japan are different. You should considering international trends in the podcast. Some of the things in U.S. really don't get adopted or are available here. And vice verse.
April 2, 2009 9:41 AM
That's really interesting. I bet it does do a lot to reduce stress. A lot of apartments and houses in my area don't even have bath tubs, only showers.
Whatever it takes to innovate technology. I think it's a great idea.
April 3, 2009 8:44 AM
True, however not all bathing is done in private. Communal bath-houses are common and sex-separate communal bathing is often a very social event. First you take a thorough shower, usually sitting down, with soap and a large cloth (about the size of a Western hand towel). Then, after you are clean you join others of your same sex in a large tub for a long soak.