The SURPRISINGLY DEEP Lore of Japanese Phones

[@SakuraStardust]

‼LIVESTREAM ANNOUNCEMENT‼ I’m gonna be streaming this Saturday (8/24) at 2pm PST!! Gonna be putting together an iceberg on-stream, so if you wanna help out with that, please stop by! ❤ I plan to make streaming a bi-weekly lil thing, also 👍✨ 🌸Twitter: twitter.com/SakuraStaardust 🌸Instagram: instagram.com/sakura.stardust/?hl=en 🌸 Business Email: [e-mail] 🌸Patreon: www.patreon.com/SakuraStardust12

[@Atem4780]

Sounds v exciting!

[@Atem4780]

Hope your health has improved

[@Jellish-b3z]

Can't wait!!!:D

[@chrisakane9840]

You're back!!!!

[@sv_cheats1970]

*A+* video

[@strawberrieeMilky]

Laura Miller (who wrote the article you cited) was one of my college professors. Her articles on kawaii culture are really good. I enjoyed her Japanese culture classes.

[@PlatinumPotat]

That’s based af is she a cool professor?

[@strawberrieeMilky]

@Undertalepotatochip I honestly didn't like her as a person, unfortunately. But she is very educated in her field and is Eiichi Shibusawa-Seigo Arai endowed by the Japanese government. She's very biased and preachy about certain things, though. But I respect her as an anthropologist and a scholar, and she inspired me to write my thesis on kawaii fashion.

[@SakuraStardust]

That’s so interesting! Thank you for sharing this! 😊

[@SepelaThons]

Keitai user here! The dumbphone subreddit is really interesting in being able to bring people wanting to detox, people that get phones for fashion, and those that just like collecting old tech. After 6 months with my Keitai, I feel like I fit into all categories and want another one already. I recommended the Keitai subreddit if you're primarily interested in aesthetics though!

[@bosmer3836]

Same here! I got one after seeing it in that subreddit, because it was exactly what I needed: simple enough that you can't use it to doomscroll on social media, but allows messaging through whatsapp and looking something up on the internet when needed. I ended up paying an extra 10€ to get a cuter color, and it just looks so cool! It makes me happy just to use it.

[@QueenoftheHorizon]

As a young weeb in the 2000s I was so enamored with Japanese cellphones! They were way cuter than anything I'd seen elsewhere (often coming in cute colors, utilizing lights and sounds, and having cute iconography that was in line with kawaii culture) and the texting/email capabilities allowing for wireless sharing of your address, having hardware built in to allow you to attach charms/straps and the ability to access cellphone novels and all that just... absolutely blew my mind in 2006-2009 especially, around the time I got my first cellphone and found it very lacking in comparison--especially because a lot of my friends didn't have cellphones and texting was considered an expensive luxury. Anime made it seem like most teenagers had cellphones and chatted with friends this way and they were so crucial to interesting social developments, so it was a disappointing experience in those early years.

[@SakuraStardust]

Same! Around 2008-2009, I remember my parents carrier offered a Sony Ericsson flip phone, and I got excited thinking it was like a Japanese Keitai (since that was a brand popular in Japan lol.) It wasn’t. It was definitely very bare-bones 😂

[@sonievkay]

same!! i was SOOO obsessed with them and had to ebay everything.😂

[@eparigon]

as a teen i always painted my lil american phones with nail polish and rigged straps and charms on them. nothings really changed about that these days for me.

[@hudonqs]

The first emojis take me back to the old DSi keyboard you’d use for Pictochat

[@hudonqs]

I always had a cloud and cellphone emoji next to my name, good times

[@SakuraStardust]

I miss those days 🥹

[@aikou2886]

I miss the Pictochat days in the original DS.

[@66.bebe.shinigami.99]

Me too, I thought the same exact thing!!

[@wisedred]

@@aikou2886 id talk to my self hours on end, what a time to be alive

[@brightestblue19971]

Fun fact: the guy who's responsible for the popularization of the ringtone is the same guy who wrote and performed "She Blinded Me With Science."

[@ezhumbug]

Banger song right there.

[@jordimedina2777]

SCIENCE

[@jordimedina2777]

btw, the Miss Sakamoto Thomas Dolby talks about is Akiko Yano

[@kans4629]

Best fun Fact I've read so far lol. Tbh I thought the B52's did that song until googling it just now

[@Omaru1982]

Good heavens, she's Beautiful!🤓 ​@@jordimedina2777

[@ringkunmori]

There was a moment in tokusatsu history where every new season of super sentai had some type of phone based transformation device, usually a flip phone. Even nowadays whenever a toy phone shows up, there is a good chance it's a flip phone design. The Japanese love their flip phones.

[@gokairedwillcipher]

Oh that's why a lot of the henshin devices are phones

[@Saitamaz94]

Not Sentai related but Kamen Rider Faiz's flip phone was real deal back then too. Like, early 2000's tokusatsu had to have some kind of phone related item. Phone Braver also has phone that transform into mini robot like a transformers. But man, nothing beat Shinkengold's SUSHI CHANGER. It's half sushi, half phone, all awesomeness.

[@ringkunmori]

@@Saitamaz94 Funniest one has to be the Ninninger Gold's changer that is shaped like a burger, which tracks since the ranger is cowboy themed, but it's is also a phone for some reason.

[@KamenSentaiMetalHero]

I remember using a flip phone to pretend to be a Power Ranger morphing.

[@iDEATH]

I remember getting a bit of a course in Japan's phones in 2001 from this Japanese teenage girl I worked with for a few months. I could barely believe her, but it all sounded damn cool. (This was in a a Jamaican restaurant in Toronto. She came to Canada to study so she could learn English. Her English was already quite good, but still heavily accented. Watching her and our very Jamaican chef try to converse was one of the most unintentionally funny things I've ever seen in my life.)

[@foxyfoxington2651]

19:40 I've said it before and I'll say it again: A talking dog is the absolute best way to advertise your product or service.

[@JoCaTen]

The US invented the cell phone and Japan just took it to the next level. Tech that was completely insane back then which we take for granted now played enough Yakuza and seen enough Anime to see how things were back then, 80s,90s and 2000s. Old media really is a great way to see how life was then, like a time capsule.

[@kurisu3000]

Playing Yakuza and watching anime doesn't give you the proper insight on things during those days. I lived in Japan since the early 70s and the atmosphere hasn't changed since. The only thing that has been changing are the rates of westerners traveling here polluting the country.

[@JoCaTen]

@@kurisu3000 not the experience and feel sure but the idea, I understand what you mean. What I meant is that playing and seeing are enough to see how people communicated back then, not exactly the way people did in reality but just a small taste at least. About the last bit, I understand and am upset myself. I always mention the expression "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" it's important to behave like the locals do or at least don't do what you're used to doing as there's a high chance your actions wouldn't be approved unlike back home. Because of such people I worry that every tourist and foreigner will be painted the same regardless of whether they know what to do and what not to and how to do just because they're foreigners. I dread the day where there's complete distrust

[@statesminds]

@@kurisu3000bro shut up lmao

[@Raderade1-pt3om]

Europe did too

[@hobbitpsi]

@@statesminds Nah you shut up, bro has a point. Look up what lot of foreigners do when they visit Japan. For example, lot of old cultural places and buildings are getting severely vandalized by foreigners, just because they think it's funny and are ignorant to the culture significance. Then you have weebs who go to Japan thinking that what they see in anime is how Japan is so they go there and act stupid.

[@nennex]

I want an Aquos 601sh so badly. This video has doubled down on my love for stylish phones that Japan never let go of.

[@ferrisbueller9991]

The beautiful charm and diversity of apple products during the era of the iPod is a foreign concept for today. All phones look the exact same. New phone coming out? I wonder what it is gonna look like? (Last cool thing made was the touchscreen flipper... but when it opens... it is the same. And paying extra for an extra screen doesn’t seem worth it. Its cool... but not cool enough.) Apple will continue to have a monopoly so prepare for more shit that looks the same made by the hands of Chinese children working all day.

[@kos2919]

I really want an android fliphone.

[@kornkernel2232]

@@kos2919 It seems like pretty much only Japan is doing this right now, which is very interesting. If you think about it, smartphones these days can be any form factor really, its not restricted to be just a slab of touchscreen rectangle. It just manufactures never makes another one and we could blame also our mass market cultural preferences as well, since some manufacturer tried but since it wasn't selling too well, they discontinued. Early Android smartphones had sliding phones, even experimented with dual screens and other form factors, but I think due to Android wasn't too polished back then, and apps are just still getting into traction, and how iPhone are seen as the "pinnacle", so we ended up with smartphones of today. Very capable but somehow got too clinical and "boring". Now we have folding screens thus the return of flip phones with folding screens and book-style foldables. The issue is their high cost and perceived not being "durable" enough for daily use that smartphone landscape still basically looks the same. Maybe it will change but who knows. I wish we get more form factors again to suit each taste and needs. At least we got far more capable software so which form factor you choose, you can still same apps and it is as capable as the next person's smartphone. But then manufacturers are not incentives to do so and will go with easy route.

[@紺野-純子]

I got it recently, not that hard to find if you use japanese proxy :D

[@CrazyP0tat095]

They're pretty cheap and in abundance with Jauce. I got mine for around 5000¥ before shipping. Alas i didn't research it too deeply and found out that they don't really work in Canada from my current looking (if anyone knows of a provider in Canada that supports them let me know.) but it's still very fun to play with.

[@frye-er]

I didn't expect that a deep dive about Japan phone culture can be this interesting! Also, what a blast from the past. I'm not Japanese, but I still remember my neighbor bragging about their recently purchased Nokia N-Gage, and I thought that it's the coolest thing I've ever seen.

[@strippinheat]

Got a couple phone cards. Some limited edition games would come with them as bonuses in the PS1-2 era. Should also note that Japanese phones use a different tech than the NFC we have in the West to use mobile payments. Even international brands like iPhones will have NFC and the Japanese protocol only on the Japanese models to use with SUICA, PASSMO, etc. So don't expect your US phone to work in Japan the same way. Fortunately, if you get the Japanese model of a phone, it'll be compatible everywhere due to having both protocols, but you'll also be stuck unable to turn off the default camera app's shutter sound due to privacy laws.

[@akaiseigo]

Some Japanese 500yen phone cards were inserted for free in some Japanese fashion magazines and manga.

[@MrMaximino92]

Japan is about to dismiss its own proprietary technologies and adopt NFC.

[@Minohorse]

As someone who is subscribed to 3 japanese commercials channels, I have seen my fair share of SoftBank commercials. Also, the come back of flip phones is certainly intriguing and I hope it continues to grow, because we all know that social media and such is poisoning humanity.

[@philtkaswahl2124]

And the Japanese internet also evolved as it did thanks to consumption via Japanese phones. Japanese tech lore is fascinating.

[@Nocturnal_Mee]

I’m so excited for you getting a shout out in the newest Lazy Masquerade video! You deserve it ❤

[@SakuraStardust]

Thank you!

[@AsherCole-l2w]

You are genuinely so pretty. I don’t mean this in a weird way, you have such a gentle, positive, and comforting presence. You should talk on camera more frequently :) It gives your videos a really nice uniqueness. Anyways, great video. Found your channel randomly and binged everything one night 😂

[@ferrisbueller9991]

@@SpeedKing.. 💀

[@DMKleinArts]

Deep cut, using the Sonic R fanfare!

[@I.Am.L]

I worked for a third party call center for Cingular/ATT support in 2005 and for a few years, and our trainer told us about how Japan has phones that let you pay for stuff 😅 totally remember that!

[@PlatinumPotat]

Did you guys know Japan still makes flip phones? Some are smartphones that run android.

[@NickyClassicBackArchives]

Filp phones are still made in usa

[@mobilephonesandtech]

Indeed, my Kyocera 902kc is a great example of that :)

[@fredericabernkastel8354]

yes, because I watched the video before commenting.

[@AMiniki]

We know. We have seen the video. But thanks for repeating what was said in it.

[@fappingfoopa]

Literally just watched this video

[@corina5759]

I would actually KILL to have a real version of mikado's phone at 15:29. The middle school (and still current) durarara fan in me had me audibly gasp and pause the video to just look at it

[@electricperfume7870]

As a Ketai strap/charm enthusiast, I loooooooooved this video!!!

[@Gamelifebalanceaustralia]

Thank you for articulating this! I get the feeling this could be a series of videos if you went into the unique games, and even the way you 'flipped' open your phone. When I was living there in the 2000s, I remember one of the big keitai crazes as putting a sticker over your screen so only the person holding it could view it. There was an epidemic of salarymen who would try and sneak looks of teenagers in hopes to get gossip. Also the fact that, by law in japan, all camera phones have to make a 'snap' noise when taking a picture. Even on silent. This was of course to prevent perverts from taking pictures of girls on trains...

[@slendercraft]

It's actually not a law, the enforced shutter is a self imposed industry convention that developed in the early 2000s when feature phones equipped with cameras started becoming more mainstream. The major carriers feared facing possible legal issues or government regulation due the potential actions of their customers taking unsolicited photos. It's super easy to get around the shutter sound as well, if your phone is rooted/jailbroken then you can straight up disable it, but without doing either you can just download one of the hundreds of third-party camera apps from the Play/App Store.

[@Sammy21290]

I love lore videos like this :D

[@ajshiro3957]

The biggest thing I remember about cell phones, especially flip phones, was that you could play games on them. But they ate up the battery life. Doubly so if the game was actually in color.

[@sutorippuwebmaster8783]

To think that when I was in high school, we thought we were being cutting edge by passing our TI-82 calculators back and forth with text messages on the screen and wait for the other person to send it back with an answer.

[@a_san_t]

My uncle used to work in Japan around the 90's. In my grandpa house, there used to be (i suspect there still is) a card book that contain my uncle used phone card. When i was little i used to look at the design and because back then i think the card built quality is nice, felt like debit card but with better picture. My uncle card mostly have scenery and animal picture on them. There's also a miniature of tokyo tower and miniature katana that's very detailed. You can even pull the sword out, and the handle and some part of the sheath is wrapped with some thread make it look authentic.

[@adamburnett2844]

I was obsessed with Japanese keitai as a weeby kid/teen, so advanced compared to anything we had in the UK. I actually got one from ebay one year for my birthday, much to my parent's confusion as to why I specifically wanted a Japanese phone. Although of course almost none of the features worked or even had the infrastructure to work lol. I could call, text and take (really good for the late 00s) photos but that was it, no internet or one seg TV or mobile payments etc, but I was just happy to have such a cool looking phone. Btw the ad at 23:26 isn't for the Softbank 601SH, but for the SH-01A which is a Docomo phone, also by Sharp. Companies often released (and I guess still do) different models under different providers, Sharp was one of the biggest. I know because the SH-01A was my first keitai! I now live in Japan and still see lots of garakei, but mostly with older business men types for work. This video has made me kinda wanna try getting my own garakei tho, but I'm not sure I'm ready to give up the smartphone yet...

[@Brushedmetal69]

Yeah I'm from the US and American and European phones were really ugly and slow back then I got a Japanese phone in 05 and it was leaps ahead of my Nokia phone, i-mode was way faster than WAP, (don't know if you remember that) the cameras like you said were better than any western phone, and compared to the clunky Nokia's and Sony Ericsson's they looked really modern even today their designs still hold up.

[@gigigibby]

Alex, I adore how your style of narration has developed to where it’s currently at with time! Very pleasant to listen to, well formulated and interesting. Keep up the good work ♡

[@SakuraStardust]

Thank you SO very much, friend 🥹 Your kind words mean the world to me!

[@samuelcrows]

Glad to see you are better Sakura. I also deal with some mental issues thanks to my autism soo i know that sometimes it can be hard.

[@Nachy]

Something I always miss as how tech evolves and becomes more convenient and compact is the tactile feel. Flip phones are cool, the act of flipping itself is kind of fun and makes for cool imagery in fiction.

[@dosgos]

Impressive research. Fascinating script and voicing. Loved the old commercials. I bet this took forever to make.

[@SakuraStardust]

Many thanks!

[@feryalthepirate437]

Glad to see you back, I hope you’re doing ok. Things were a bit different in the UK, when I went to uni in ‘98 I had a brick of a phone called a bt cellnet. I could text but it was still alien to rely on it. I’ve always loved the Japanese style of emoji faces, they were always more interesting. The phone customising is so sick. It really tempts me to try and hang a load of charms on my phone decora kei style

[@neondouche]

Would you ever be open to discussing the history and evolution of gyaru, gyaru culture and gyaru sub styles? I feel that would be such an interesting topic as I’ve not seen many English speaking creators discuss this, much less English speaking creators who are also well versed in Japanese culture and language to accurately describe gyaru.

[@SakuraStardust]

I’ve absolutely considered it! May make a big ol video on the history of Japanese fashion as a whole sometime in the future as well 😊

[@neondouche]

@@SakuraStardustlove that! I’m a huge fan of gyaru and dress ganguro/yamanba myself and would just love to know more of its history and cultural impact. Though I’ve researched lots myself, my knowledge is hindered because of the language barrier. Waaah I would love to see your take on the topic of Japanese fashion 🤍

[@Mirai8]

Great idea!

[@KansaiCool]

Another stellar video. Thanks so much. Definitely would love try out some of these older gadgets. Really miss flip phones.

[@LiliasSenga]

This video is among your best work yet!! I love the new editing style with the pastel theme!! I eagerly await your next video, Queen.

[@fArG0]

As a telecom professional, I really love this video. Great job!

[@anikacurry2550]

Sakurastardust🤗😸🌸💕☕ glad to see you are better your content always always put me on a good mood 😁 hope you are feeling better we missed ya splendid work as always you look absolutely gorgeous welcome back Sakurastardust your Japanese media videos are wonderfully well done take care of yourself sakurastardust your health is high priority stay strong sakurastardust 😸🌸🍵 🎭💕.

[@yagogabriell]

Fun fact: The phone cards is a Brazilians invention, and this culture was come from Brazil to Japan (the biggest number of the japoneses out of Japan in the word)

[@ferando]

I am part of the dumbphone community. I upgraded from an iPhone to a HMD Nokia flip phone and oh boy, I didn;t know the outside world and the real life was SO damn good. I think more people should at least try this.

[@hobbitpsi]

You know, I keep seeing people say this and it just baffles me. I use a smart phone, but maybe it's because I lived through the age of beepers and dumb phones that I'm not addicted to my phone and on it 24/7. Like it's never been like a drug to keep staring at my phone and don't understand how people can actually be like that.

[@Luipaard005]

@@hobbitpsi the phones and apps that come with them are designed by the same industry that makes casino machines for Vegas, it's a minority of people that can avoid becoming addicted.

[@redraccoondog7821]

I remember being able to type eyes free on my flip phone while i had to always look at a smartphone to make sure it wasnt gibberish

[@equarep1725]

Omg! Toro Inoue in the thumbnail! Love that lil dude

[@tatsufromkansai]

Great video as always!

[@middlethenerd]

I may have covid but a new Sakura Stardust video makes me feel way better

[@SakuraStardust]

Oh my gosh, I’m sorry to hear that, I hope you feel better soon 💚

[@systematicallyshocked]

Great video! Randomly found this. I really miss those Japanese flip phones. I was in middle school, high school into college during the 2000s. I just loooooooooved when the Japanese girls used flip phones. They had all those attachments and accessories and would type crazy fast. It was always so cute. When they went smart phones I saw the accessories less and less which was sad. My Japanese friends would always have a lot. Lately I’ve seen they often get cases for iPhones that allow for the continuation of their accessories. Anywho this brought back some good memories. A job well done! Thanks again.

[@kenziejinx203]

Awesome video, love it!!! Sidenote though: Your voice would work really well in English dubs of anime, imo.

[@monikawischnewski]

The Yakuza scene at 3:25 was so funny I almost choked on my apple😭😂 I saw my life flash before my eyes😭💀

[@danl9621]

This is my first time watching you channel and that was very informative and well researched, thanks for dedicating a part to the mobile payment thing, it's actually impressive that Japan was so ahead on that, I remember hearing about osaifu keitai in 2005 and being impressed!

[@kralekis]

0:33 I was convinced Motorola was Italian, my life is a lie 😭

[@saraalshalabi842]

Same 😭

[@CLOYO]

HOW?

[@MrGoatFish10]

How?

[@Jorj57]

they're literally one if not the most significant american tech company in history, bruhh..

[@jordynbeloved4268]

Your videos always have me entertained. Whenever I see a new video of yours uploaded, I know I will enjoy it regardless of the topic. You always know how to make interesting content and you do extremely thorough research. Keep up the good work!

[@babakinvan]

This is really well done!!! thank you and great job

[@supersmallchibiwolf872]

This was interesting and fun. I remember back then those phones were more durable than modern phones. i love seeing the wonderful unique designs. Also 16:13 I always found It funny that they admire that which is my natural skin color. 23:26 Bird gang. I love how these phones are growing especially in the newer generations. Cool video. ^_^

[@theenderstar]

the phone at 15:29 is a replica from steins gate btw, not a functioning phone

[@realvivifromloona]

loved this video!! ive always been intrigued by keitais ever since i found out about them in 2020, but never knew about them having mobile payments & touchscreens that early i hope to get my hands on one of these phones soon enough!!

[@OlaHime]

Repasting and edited because my comment seems to have been deleted|? Fun fact: It's not true that Nokia 808 PureView was the last Symbian-based phone ever released. 808PV was the last western Symbian phone, and the last phone, whose UI is a direct descendant of Series 60. To my knowledge*, the last phone to ever use Symbian at all - in the form of MOAP(S), was NTT DoCoMo's Fujitsu F-01G Raku-Raku PHONE BASIC 4, released in october 2014, that is 2 years and 5 months after 808PV. *my personal site which contains a table with them

[@sodapone]

One of my arcade friends dailies three phones-and one of them is a 2019 Felica-compatible flip phone that he keeps entirely so that he can load arcade passes onto it and use its one-button open to log into arcade machines in the most over-the-top flex imaginable. The rest of us just use physical cards... Also, y'know what gyaru-moji reminds me of? Leetspeak-especially the substitution of individual characters for similar-looking or composite characters. When I saw シ rendered as =/ I immediately went "holy crap that reminds me of writing N as /\/".

[@reptilez13]

My cousin imported Japanese cell phone sin the late 90s and early 2000s. I was blown away how teeny they were lol. Then she had them with Java type stuff, PDA features. Pre iphone of course.

[@user-rc3cm1zv4j]

Probably one of your most interesting videos. Glad i subscribed ☺️

[@Irma_Vep]

Your hair looks super cute! Video was a fun learn.

[@Stvrlighttie]

I love lore videos sm

[@denyingZangetsu]

Really great video Sakura! Loved the segment on phone cards. Was the only way I could contact home back in 90’s Ireland and we got our share of localised special editions too, but nothing to the extent Japan did!!

[@FineFictMen]

Out of all of the videos, this one has to be one of my favs! Keep up the good work! ❤

[@SakuraStardust]

Thank you! That’s such a relief to hear because I really wanted to make something more fun and lighthearted

[@Dragondude2525]

We had phone cards in Greece too that I would collect when I was a kid. They had them to the latest by the early 2000’s. So many designs and historic and geographical locations printed in them.

[@blueberrypitbull87]

Saw the Yukiko card! Also, I have that vintage My Little Pony figure that the one girl had hanging from her phone. Its name is Dancing Butterflies.

[@coga3020]

14:03 現在ドワンゴ取締役COO兼ニコニコ運営代表の栗田穣崇の若き日の姿である Kurita is currently the COO of Dwango Inc. and the head of Nicovideo.

[@Mirai8]

One of my absolute favorite topics I've been a fan of for over 25 years! Great job, Sakura. 🎉

[@OmegaEnvych]

When I saw "Sharp Aquos" I was like "why am I not surprised?" - that line of phones was pretty much pioneering designs since who knows when - west only got their "borderless" model, which, all negative things aside, was still cool phone with unique take on design. Great video, easy and interesting to watch - so big thumbsup for it!

[@Unquestionable]

Great choice of topic! I always loved the way Japanese phones kind of did their own thing for the longest time and it's cool to see the evolution of that. Great content as usual!

[@Pigpen_YT]

Fantastic video as usual! I remember being really confused back in 2018 when I started watching anime and people were asking each other for their emails lmao. To be honest to this day I just kinda assumed email was slang for phone number or something. Never crossed my mind that they use email addresses to text despite how obvious it is, I mean they literally ask for email addresses lol. But yeah great video as usual!

[@boahancock3461]

Aaaahhh so interesting will wait for more video. Btw family tree photo is crazy 🙂

[@HalianTheProtogen]

Mudkip :3 Also, that _Evangelion_ phone is sick. That's totally just the standard NERV work phone lol

[@littledreamerrem7021]

The only thing keeping me away from a flip phone is the camera feature of a smartphone. Mine takes amazing shots of the insects I study, and being able to do that on short notice is important to me. For a while, I did make due with a flip phone and an old iPod Touch, but that's not feasible right now. :/

[@Pirategod23]

Samsung has flip phones currently with good cameras and apparently iPhone is making one too

[@littledreamerrem7021]

@@Pirategod23 I'm keeping my eye out! My current smartphone has one of the best cameras on the market (bar those $1000+ ones), so it's hard to beat. I look forward to the day when I can replace it, though.

[@hobbitpsi]

@@littledreamerrem7021 I'm a tech enthusiast, so I'm actually very curious which phone you're using where you're claiming is the best camera on the market. No hate, I'm genuinely curious.

[@littledreamerrem7021]

@@hobbitpsi Google Pixel 7. Maybe not the *best* best out there, but in terms of camera, I couldn't beat it for the price. It has gotten me some really crisp photos of tiny insects.

[@hobbitpsi]

@@littledreamerrem7021 Oh then I'll agree, but the Pixels have always took the best pictures. That's kind of the thing, pixel takes best pictures while iphone takes best video. But Yes I had the 7 and 7 pro and I'll agree with you. I'm fixing to try and get the new Pixel 9 pro XL in the next month when my upgrade comes up.

[@paodebatata6606]

cant deny, sakura is quite cute with light makeup (also great video)

[@ferrisbueller9991]

Yeh, she be a waifu for real. A simple cutie. A simp-able beauty.

[@loli_cvnt5622]

Ew

[@HorsesArePeople2]

Maybe you could do a complimentary video talking about 90s-00s internet culture and websites, I think that would be pretty interesting

[@dew21news35]

Been looking for a vid on Japanese phones for months thank you

[@lbewl7374]

Mr Bean invented the selfie. Winston Churchill invented "LOL"

[@eyeless9209]

I was hyped for this video!

[@MiguelThinks]

I'm so glad you have a deep dive into phone culture of Japan to explain how this works. I've been trying to convince my friends that technology is very culture-based, not a linear evolution. Japan is often looked as super advanced in a linear fashion when really, its the culture that directs the trend, not technology alone.

[@BlackKanye]

Even before I really started 'actively' watching anime in high school (more things on cable that aired it and finally really making the distinction between it and cartoons since as a younger kid I didn't really fathom the differing styles being because of country of origin), I remember finding phones in anime 'interesting'. I liked the look a lot more from what I still remember I've been watching 'smartphone flip phones' for more than 5+ years now. I had a blackberry before getting a touch screen smart phone. I do miss my flip phones (especially the razr) back in middle school/high school. Hell I preferred those 'slide' phones. I just liked actual buttons man. I mean it isn't like I won't use what I can get (and care to work to get), but I noticed smart phone flip phones in Asia awhile ago. Wish they caught on over here.

[@azurekonpeki]

Flip phones are absolutely adorable and have a lot of soul

[@Guusagi]

Ou this is so perfect for me🤣 Legit been on a japanese flip phone rabbit hole lately cus they're so cute and I kinda want one

[@PuppyLuver256]

I know this is a minor thing but it's so wild, I was literally playing TomoLife (I recently restarted my island for funsies) while watching this when I heard the clothing store music come on in your bgm selection. So 1) good taste, 2) WOW that is some serendipitous timing XD

[@docwhogr]

i was watching dandadan yesterday and you magically answer my question about the ganguro girl that i wouldn't had search by my self

[@Mahawww]

I always thought they looked cool. Loved the video, very interesting!

[@balthasarking8570]

I had a Panasonic VS3 flip phone around 2005, it was the coolest thing!

[@banjofunk]

Great content, thank you for this, now I know I am old! Remeber my first moble phone in 1994 and flip phone later maybe pre 2000! Anyway, love your content, keep up the good work!

[@AHOGE-TAN]

The gyarumoji texting part got me unreasonably salty. Imagine finally learning to read and write japanese when some smug japanese girl in funky make-up text you that the hot water is down and you stand there looking at your phone unable to tell if what she texted was that the hot water is down or the third impact has arrived

[@joeydestructo]

When Final Fantasy VII Advent Children came out, a lot of people, myself included, thought Cloud's cell phone was unbelievably cool. It turned out that it was actually a real cell phone; the Panasonic FOMA P900iV. It wasn't just a regular flip phone, but it the screen could twist around and point horizontally out to the side like a camcorder. Because you actually COULD use it like a camcorder - it had a video camera built into the side that was actually pretty good for the time (as I remember). In any case it looked awesome and people online even started a petition to bring it to the US. Don't think that ever happened though lol

[@hobbitpsi]

Nope but like all Japanese flips you could have bought it online and used it in the US, you weren't going to get the fastest internet speeds or full bar connectivity, but it would work. Like I had a few back when data was 4GLTE and if memory serves a Japanese phone would only get 2G-3G out here and it'd be getting about 3 bars. Not the best connectivity but it worked.

[@rosehipowl]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series when talking about flip phones' comeback! I have no idea how popular they are in Japan (probably not) but I have seen a lot of buzz about them in the West. And as someone who used to be interested in smartphones, they are the first phone in aaaaages that actually has me excited about phones again. I feel like they were trying to go after some of the Japanese flip phone market, especially with the newest launch where you can get cases that flash and stuff, and the customisable screens. edit: I just realised how much this made me sound like a Smasnug shill. I am not shilling for Smasnug. I don't even own the phone, I just think it's a cool idea.

[@PinkAgaricus]

Samsung should make a "stupid" version of the Flip series where the top has a regular OLED display that doesn't have touch function and the bottom half can have button controls (like on a dumb flip phone) and the front display stays the way it is. What would that be called though The "Flipper" (ala the Folder which is another kind of graily flip phone). I have to say the same about the current Moto Razr, too. They can do something similar by shaping the top similar to the classic razr and doing the same with the inner display and keypad. For those who aren't a fan of the current smartification of the flip phone. I don't own it (flip or fold) either (I have the candybar shaped 2 generations ago, Galaxy S22 Ultra).

[@_krbrs_]

Oh this was suuuper interesting! I vividly remember using Nokia phones in the late 2000s and they were pretty advanced, but had the chance to own a japanese flip phone in 2008 and it felt like the future! the same year the iphone dropped ahahah

[@Setupthemabomb]

The first flip phone maybe a Motorola, but that startac got unusual layout, and the one familiar layout we know even today started with NEC Opera in 1996, which was another can of worm itself, a NEC product but designed and made in Australia. I really love your breakdown, I collect cellphone and got bunch of keitai, almost all of them are my favorite cellphone design in my collection, never knew Pioneer made all-touch cellphone back in 1997, now I want one...

[@dihexa7256]

Some of my earliest memories of Japan are of watching anime like digimon and being in awe of their cellphones and other tech, this was back in the era when my family didn’t even have a computer yet

[@ashlyxenon]

earlier this summer i bought a japanese flip phone on ebay. it helps so much to detox from social media and brings me to be more present in my life!

[@SakuraStardust]

That’s awesome! I’ve considered doing it myself, though it’s tricky as a content creator 😅

[@chinny18]

Wha? Japan went into selfie trend first than the rest of the world?

[@hobbitpsi]

This surprises you? All that is literally why people believe the myth that Japan is the most tech advanced country when they're really not.

[@chinny18]

@@hobbitpsi Well, yeah. Not surprising really.

[@cyberleone00]

I LOVE YOUR USERNAME OMG

[@jeffystreet]

clicked on this purely due to Toro (from Doko Demo Issyo/Together Everywhere, unfortunately more people know him as the "sony Cat"...) being in the thumbnail, and DAMN, this was interesting!!

[@jeffystreet]

Side note; a video on DDI itself someday would be nice to see, there's a translation project going on for the PSP remake and it could use some more publicity

[@carloshurtado5077]

Great video! I was mostly familiar with the phones from the 80s thanks to yakuza 0

[@crackity_j]

Hope to see you at PAX but if I don’t I hope you have a great show!

[@MIK33EY]

For years I’ve wondered what I-Mode was as they were a prominent sponsor on the nose cone of the Renault F1 Team especially mid 2000’s. Look for the Blue & Yellow livery. On a side note: We had those Telephone Cards in Australia in the 90’s and people collected them just the same.

[@mhdj14]

12:24 In Europa mobile phone payments where a thing since 2015 where individual banks would release apps to be able to this, and in 2017 most banks had an app to do this. Not 2004, but also definitely not 2024 either…

[@paolochicco7200]

very nice and accurate video. it made me really nostalgic (living in Tokyo for almost the last 20 years)😢 just one question: why did you omitted the carrier called AU? it is quite big