In the United States, the personal computer -- which provides direct access to alternative news sources and multiple one-to-many channels for opinion expression -- is the ultimate media literacy tool. In Japan, where few understand the term "media literacy," Internet-enabled cell phones play no such role. "If asked whether mobile telephones are a positive factor in improving media literacy, I would have to say no. In fact, they are somewhat of a negative factor," says Minoru Sugiyama, 40, a Tokyo-based media strategist. "Younger students in particular tend to feel that they don't need a PC if they have a cell phone," Sugiyama added. "Some even say that if they had enough money to buy their own PC, they would rather upgrade to a better cell phone and use more mobile services. But they tend to change their tune and get more PC-oriented as they approach graduation and job hunting." Today, 17 percent of Japanese households -- about 8.3 million -- have broadband connections to the Internet. That number is expected to grow rapidly, but the cell phone seems for now to have displaced computer use to some extent, particularly among the young. In part, this is due to the highly mobile lifestyle here, where it is not uncommon for children as young as 9 to commute 40 minutes or more by train to school every day. But in key ways, cell phones suit the Japanese mindset and communication style far better than computers. "Cell phone mail in particular represents a very closed world, since people exchange mail almost exclusively with their existing circles of friends," says Promotions' Hanamoto. "It's not a gateway to a bright, broader view of reality. I can't equate online offerings available via cell phone with the Internet. Mobile is a great channel for intimate communications, but I wouldn't say it is especially useful in terms of broadening your horizons." Tim Clark, author of the Japan Internet Report, serves as Senior Fellow at Tokyo-based venture incubator SunBridge and editor of the monthly Japan Entrepreneur Report. He is currently working on a book about service sector entrepreneurship with co-author Carl Kay.
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