Society Smartphone distraction turns walking into a safety risk in Japan

thomas · 22 Jun 2026

We wrote about the dangers of "keitai zombies" as early as 2004.

Things have not improved, obviously. JT staff writer Alex Martin about the dangers of smartphone zombies, people who engage in aruki sumaho (歩きスマホ), walking while using a smartphone:

At around 8:45 a.m. on Friday, June 5, my mother was knocked over by a man staring at his smartphone as he exited the ticket gates of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line at Ikebukuro, one of the busiest train stations in Tokyo. My mother, 78, has a bad left knee and uses a cane whenever she goes out. She struck the right side of her face on the ground. By the time I arrived about 15 minutes later — we had planned to meet on the platform before boarding an express train — she was sitting in a Seibu staff room, assisted by station employees. Her right forehead was swollen and would soon force her right eye shut. A three-centimeter laceration beneath her eye was bleeding heavily. "I told him to watch out and raised my hand to keep my distance, but it was too late," she told me.

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 171 people were taken to hospital by ambulance between 2021 and 2025 after accidents involving smartphone use while walking or cycling. Forty-three cases were recorded in 2025 alone. Falls were the most common cause of injury, accounting for 71 cases, or more than 40 per cent of the total.

Another 47 people were injured after falling from elevated places, while 46 were hurt in collisions with other people or objects. About 70 per cent of ambulance call-outs occurred on pavements, in railway stations and in similar public spaces. Officials say the actual number of smartphone-related accidents is likely higher, as the figures do not include people injured by distracted smartphone users.

Distracted walkers in Japan are a real safety risk. My mother knows firsthand.

Despite years of awareness campaigns, aruki-sumaho — walking while using a smartphone — remains widespread and difficult to stop.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Kulern · 24 Jun 2026

I tried a Snort Phone for 1 year. The constant vibrations of ads or news got me so annoyed by it. So i went back to Feature Phone. Besides i prefer buttons over tap tap tap

Feature phone - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

mdchachi · 1 Jul 2026

Kulern said:
The constant vibrations of ads or news got me so annoyed by it.

You should be able to turn all those notifications off with a little bit of effort. The smartphone is just too powerful of a device for me to get rid of.
I would argue the "phone" part of the name is a misnomer.

Kulern · 1 Jul 2026

mdchachi said:
You should be able to turn all those notifications off with a little bit of effort. The smartphone is just too powerful of a device for me to get rid of.
I would argue the "phone" part of the name is a misnomer.

I still prefer Feature Phone. I think Snort Phones or Snort Pads are just not needed. Unless one is working on a fancy work device.

mdchachi · 1 Jul 2026

Can your feature phone take nice pictures? Can it navigate you to any destination and display maps? Can you look up web sites on it? Can you make video calls on it (such as Facetime or WhatsApp)? And, most importantly, can you access JREF with it?

Kulern · 1 Jul 2026

mdchachi said:
Can your feature phone take nice pictures? Can it navigate you to any destination and display maps? Can you look up web sites on it? Can you make video calls on it (such as Facetime or WhatsApp)? And, most importantly, can you access JREF with it?

IoT phones isnt ideal for these stuff to begin with. I got a Laptop or Stationary Pc for those. And apps for everything on phones, is overrated and waste of time.

If i want to learn programming, i wouldnt use a phone.
If i want to edit a picture, i wouldnt use a phone
If i want to edit a video, i wouldnt use a phone
If i want to send a email, i wouldnt use a phone.

And not to mention. Feature Phone does the needed thing i need it for. SMS, phone call and calendar notifications. Thats it! And it costs about 100 bucks. I dont need a 700 dollar brick, when i can get a laptop instead

mdchachi · 1 Jul 2026

Kulern said:
If i want to learn programming, i wouldnt use a phone.
If i want to edit a picture, i wouldnt use a phone
If i want to edit a video, i wouldnt use a phone
If i want to send a email, i wouldnt use a phone.

That's my point. The so-called smart phone is not a phone at all. It's an amazingly powerful computing device that also happens to cellular phone capabilities.

Kulern · 1 Jul 2026

mdchachi said:
That's my point. The so-called smart phone is not a phone at all. It's an amazingly powerful computing device that also happens to cellular phone capabilities.

But it got no purpose? Its just a device you bring with you to stare at, when you could rather smell the flowers and watch nature instead. For corporations, it might be useful. But for everyday use, i find it pestering and annoying

edit: Also, there was a good movie that came out recently called "Toy Story 5". I am not trying to suggest... back in the good old days. Because i bet parents also hated people who spent too much time on game consoles. But Snort Phones is one extra step to useless waste of time to me. I am a anti 4th industrial revolution bigot is all

mdchachi · 1 Jul 2026

Maybe you don't go out much and don't need portability?

Grandpa Frank · 1 Jul 2026

I've been using Tracfone for about 20 years in case I needed to call 911. So far I've only turned it on twice in all those years. I got along without a cell for 50 years so I see no reason to start using it. My age is showing , LOL.

Mikawa Ossan · 2 Jul 2026

Over the years I've been using my smart phone more and more for non-phone activities. I use it a lot for travel, i.e., airline apps, hotel apps, train apps, etc. It's also extremely useful in China (Alipay & WeChat). Then of course, email, and other useful apps such as a compass, levelling app, weather, paying for parking, and news apps. Oh, and who can forget maps? I use the phone a ton for navigating when driving, and sometimes even walking.

mdchachi · 2 Jul 2026

Mikawa Ossan said:
Over the years I've been using my smart phone more and more for non-phone activities. I use it a lot for travel, i.e., airline apps, hotel apps, train apps, etc. It's also extremely useful in China (Alipay & WeChat). Then of course, email, and other useful apps such as a compass, levelling app, weather, paying for parking, and news apps. Oh, and who can forget maps? I use the phone a ton for navigating when driving, and sometimes even walking.

That was basically my point. It provides a lot more functionality than doom scrolling.

Mikawa Ossan · 2 Jul 2026

Obviously walking in town while engrossed in your phone is a terrible idea, but like you say @mdchachi, there is more to modern phones than just videos and such. I fought using smartphones for more than just phone and email for a while, but it gets harder every year, especially for travel. I very rarely watch any kind of video on my smartphone, though. I'd rather use a monitor for that so I can see properly.

One thing I still don't feel comfortable with the smart phone is using an e-driver's ID or e-passport. So much is already linked to the phone. You have to draw the line somewhere.

Society Smartphone distraction turns walking into a safety risk in Japan

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

Distracted walkers in Japan are a real safety risk. My mother knows firsthand.

Kulern

Sempai

Feature phone - Wikipedia

mdchachi

Moderator

Kulern

Sempai

mdchachi

Moderator

Kulern

Sempai

mdchachi

Moderator

Kulern

Sempai

mdchachi

Moderator

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

Mikawa Ossan

いかんわ！

mdchachi

Moderator

Mikawa Ossan

いかんわ！

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