The Japanese Thumb Generation

Japanese kids which grew up with thumb-controlled game boys have found a new way to keep their highly agile thumbs occupied: tapping in e-mail messages and surfing the web on their mobile phones. The more than 50 million mobile phone users (out of a total population of 126 million people!) are the most advanced in the world.

According to Sadie Plant, author of "On the Mobile", who examined the mobile phone habits of people in eight world cities, the thumbs of kids all over the world have become bigger and more muscular. But the Japanese kids are undoubtedly the meanest thumbers. Plant calls Japan's new Thumb Generation "the most advanced in the world." Frequent speed-typing contests held in Japan seem to match what she says. They have uncovered mobile phone users who can type 100 words a minute. With their thumbs!

The Japanese can't live without their mobile phones anymore. It has become their best friend, used to locate a nice restaurant, a friend on a busy street, or to inform others of a special occasion. Without it they'd be lost and frightfully lonesome.

Contact kjduits@ikjeld.com if you would like to carry these photographs.

Click a thumbnail to display the full size image.