Japanese often use keitai (Internet-enabled mobile phones) to communicate with their close friends and family. The small size and portability of the keitai makes it possible to send messages at almost any time and in any place—even Tokyo subway lines have been wired to enable connection underground. Moreover, the ability to type discreet messages makes it socially conducive to quietly send messages in public places where voiced conversation would be socially unacceptable. As in other countries, the heaviest users of this technology are young people, who often text message each other as a way to nurture relationships that might otherwise be hampered by parents and other authority figures. The kinds of text messages sent by keitai vary considerably, from the utility-oriented keitai e-mail that is used to coordinate in-person meetings, to the seemingly superfluous ‘‘I’m so bored’’ e-mail that promotes a sense of ‘‘ultra-connectedness’’ between lovers and confidants (Ito 2001). While these existing studies have gone a long way toward understanding the keitai phenomenon, a number of unanswered questions remain about the long-term social implications of this technology. First, although it has been well documented that keitai use increases contact with close friends and family, it is unknown if it is used to develop new supportive relationships. It is possible that keitai communication only supports existing supportive relationships, and does not help develop new relationships. Second, it is not known if keitai e-mail has the potential to replace PC (personal computer) e-mail over time. While it is possible that both types of e-mail will be used together to contact supportive ties, the convenience and portability of the keitai might make PC e-mail redundant. This chapter answers these questions through longitudinal data collected in Japan’s Yamanashi prefecture. Collected over three years, this is among the first studies to collect information about social networks and e-mail use over time. It offers a rare opportunity to map out the adoption of keitai and how its use is associated with changes in relationships. In this chapter, we address two research questions:
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