Wristwatches losing out to keitai

[Mulboyne]

BusinessWeek: Time's up for watch sales in Japan
Spare a thought for Japan's watchmakers. According to a new survey by Seiko Watches, the proportion of Japanese aged between 16-49 wearing wristwatches has plummeted from 70% in 1997 to 46% today. The culprit, if you haven't already guessed, is the mighty cell phone. While the trend is a global one, it's more pronounced in Japan, where mobile phone ownership passed 81 million in 2004, and gizmo-jammed handsets rule the roost...Still, all isn't quite lost for watchmakers...last year total sales actually rose 8% to $5.5 billion...The reason: those that are buying watches are opting for (often pricey) imports, which account for 70% of the total value of sales...more...

[TobidashiChui]

That's rather odd. When I am in the subway, I wear a watch because my phone collects its time information from the phone company's wireless network. I suppose it is all a matter of personal need.

[kurohinge1]

. . . BusinessWeek: Time's up for watch sales in Japan
Spare a thought for Japan's watchmakers. According to a new survey by Seiko Watches, the proportion of Japanese aged between 16-49 wearing wristwatches has plummeted from 70% in 1997 to 46% today. The culprit, if you haven't already guessed, is the mighty cell phone . . .

I'm one of the many that's given up their wristwatch and I actually laughed the other day when I realised that I'd just reached into my pocket to retrieve my mobile and flip it open to read the time, much like our ancestors would've used a pocket watch prior to the 20th century. Now, in the 21st century, we've reverted to the old style, although these modern "pocket watches" do so much more. ]keitai[/I] (mobile phone) alarms are now the most popular method for Japanese to wake up - and I'm guilty of that too.

Ring tones wake over two in five Japanese

[dimwit]

Being a teacher, I have to wear a watch, as keitai are not acceptable for teachers, however I find the Japanese climate especially the rainy season the bane of existence for watch bands. As a result I just buy a 100 yen shop watch and not worry if it breaks after a few months.

[GomiGirl]

I am a somewhat heavy keitai user and I always wear a wrist watch. I don't have an alarm clock anymore - I just use my phone. I guess it is just a matter of personal choice.

[dimwit]

I am a somewhat heavy keitai user and I always wear a wrist watch. I don't have an alarm clock anymore - I just use my phone. I guess it is just a matter of personal choice.

Well, I don't exactly blame you:D but keitais have been wrecking havoc in my classrooms. In the good old days when I saw some dunf playing with a keitai in class I knew they were e-mail someone, but these days some of them are using their keitai's Japanese-english dictionary function which I can hardly disapprove of.

[kurohinge1]

I am a somewhat heavy keitai user . . .

Is that like a fetish or something - only using heavy keitai?