Phone Decorations
Apparently, about 70% of all mobile phone (or keitai) users in Japan like to decorate their phones with dangling phone straps. I’d say it’s even more than that. Even the men will have something cute hanging from their phones, like a Disney character. Usually there is more than one strap too. I’ve seen school kids with around ten decorative straps hanging from their phone, which must make picking up the phone to answer it a mini weights workout.
Amusingly, one of the most popular phone straps of the last few weeks has been Junichiro Koizumi-themed straps. Koizumi, as you should all know, was the highly popular and charismatic prime minister of Japan until he stood down a week ago. Shinzo Abe is now prime minister, but Abe-themed phone straps seem unlikely.
Most phone straps are character straps, that is, Disney, Hello Kitty or anime characters. Other phone decorations include stickers, screen protectors and jewels that can be glued on to make your keitai look like pure bling. Personally, I have three phone straps, a Naruto themed screen protector and a Fullmetal Alchemist themed sticker on my phone, but at least I can still actually answer the phone when it rings! I sometimes wonder if the school girls can actually operate their phone when they have so many things stuck to it (and usually just as highly decorated fingernails).
I’ve found a blog that documents various trends in mobile phone straps, for anyone wanting more photos. It seems to be run by a Japanese woman but the site is in English. So, have a look at Strapya Roomy Room.
Links:
strapya.com
Mainichi Daily News
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