THE BRIDGE

tag On my mobile

On My Mobile: Tokyo Otaku Mode’s Nao Kodaka

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This is part of our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones. Few Japanese startups are creating the sort of buzz that Tokyo Otaku Mode has in the past year. Now with over 11 million fans on its Facebook page, the company’s mission is to promote Japanese subculture abroad, and hopefully make a profit in the process. Back in February we spoke with TOM’s co-founder Nao Kodaka to learn more about his company. But recently I thought it would also be interesting to ask Nao to participate in our ‘On My Mobile’ series, and check out what kind of Android apps he’s using these days (see below). Not surprisingly, Tokyo Otaku Mode’s own Otaku Camera app is on Nao’s homescreen, as he uses it a lot with family. He also enjoys the World Conqueror 2 simulation game, which he says he uses a lot during his commute. Google Drive is also among his favorite apps, allowing him to do work from practically anywhere. If you’d like to find out more about the Android apps that Nao enjoys these days, you can browse the interactive graphic of his homescreen below…

This is part of our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones.


Few Japanese startups are creating the sort of buzz that Tokyo Otaku Mode has in the past year. Now with over 11 million fans on its Facebook page, the company’s mission is to promote Japanese subculture abroad, and hopefully make a profit in the process.

Back in February we spoke with TOM’s co-founder Nao Kodaka to learn more about his company. But recently I thought it would also be interesting to ask Nao to participate in our ‘On My Mobile’ series, and check out what kind of Android apps he’s using these days (see below).

Not surprisingly, Tokyo Otaku Mode’s own Otaku Camera app is on Nao’s homescreen, as he uses it a lot with family. He also enjoys the World Conqueror 2 simulation game, which he says he uses a lot during his commute. Google Drive is also among his favorite apps, allowing him to do work from practically anywhere.

If you’d like to find out more about the Android apps that Nao enjoys these days, you can browse the interactive graphic of his homescreen below and click through to the apps on Google Play.


On My Mobile: Kayac’s Kayo Matsubara

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This is part of our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones. We recently featured the very fun Domino’s x Hatsune Miku smartphone application, which imposes an amazing augmented reality musical performance from a virtual pop star over top of your pizza. The folks behind that app are none other than Kamakura-based development studio Kayac, the same crew behind fun ideas like the Voice Driver Cup. I thought it might be interesting to see how some people at Kayac use their own mobile phones, and Kayo Matsubara was kind enough to oblige. As you can see, she’s a big fan of Facebook (as many Japanese people are these days). She tells me she’s also using the Withings Health Mate app a lot these days too, as well as the Moves app to track her physical activity. She also points to the Japanese service Sumally as one she enjoys very much. This is a unique encyclopedia of things (as my colleague Yukari describes) — comparable to Gdgt.com in some ways. Below you can see an interactive view of her iPhone’s homescreen, and you can mousehover to get a peek at…

This is part of our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones.


We recently featured the very fun Domino’s x Hatsune Miku smartphone application, which imposes an amazing augmented reality musical performance from a virtual pop star over top of your pizza. The folks behind that app are none other than Kamakura-based development studio Kayac, the same crew behind fun ideas like the Voice Driver Cup.

I thought it might be interesting to see how some people at Kayac use their own mobile phones, and Kayo Matsubara was kind enough to oblige. As you can see, she’s a big fan of Facebook (as many Japanese people are these days). She tells me she’s also using the Withings Health Mate app a lot these days too, as well as the Moves app to track her physical activity. She also points to the Japanese service Sumally as one she enjoys very much. This is a unique encyclopedia of things (as my colleague Yukari describes) — comparable to Gdgt.com in some ways.

Below you can see an interactive view of her iPhone’s homescreen, and you can mousehover to get a peek at the individual applications. Enjoy!

On My Mobile: Metaps’ Yusuke Kobayashi

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This is the first in our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones. We recently heard from Tokyo-based smartphone ad company Metaps, which just raised $11 million in series B funding. As a semi-related follow up, I thought it might be fun to ask someone from Metaps how they use their own Android phone. Yusuke Kobayashi was kind enough to participate in the first of what we hope to be a continuing series called ‘On My Mobile’. The goal is to take a look at the notable applications that folks in Japan’s tech industry use themselves, in the interests of better understanding Japan’s mobile space. In the interactive graphic below, you can see a couple of screens from Yusuke’s Android phone. He elaborates a little on three of his favorite applications: MT2 Free – This app is site viewer of Japanese 2channel which is a huge bulletin board site. I often use this app to get various information about entertainment, society, sport, etc. Also, the user comments for this app are pretty funny. Sudoku Plus – This app is puzzle game with numbers. I use this app to kill…

This is the first in our ‘On My Mobile’ series (RSS), a modest attempt to better understand how folks in Japan use their smartphones.


We recently heard from Tokyo-based smartphone ad company Metaps, which just raised $11 million in series B funding. As a semi-related follow up, I thought it might be fun to ask someone from Metaps how they use their own Android phone. Yusuke Kobayashi was kind enough to participate in the first of what we hope to be a continuing series called ‘On My Mobile’. The goal is to take a look at the notable applications that folks in Japan’s tech industry use themselves, in the interests of better understanding Japan’s mobile space.

In the interactive graphic below, you can see a couple of screens from Yusuke’s Android phone. He elaborates a little on three of his favorite applications:

  • MT2 Free – This app is site viewer of Japanese 2channel which is a huge bulletin board site. I often use this app to get various information about entertainment, society, sport, etc. Also, the user comments for this app are pretty funny.
  • Sudoku Plus – This app is puzzle game with numbers. I use this app to kill time and exercise my brain.
  • Revenge Of Dragoon – This app is social game, and the most interesting thing about it is its story and the card battle.

You can mouse over the image below to explore more of Yusuke’s preferred applications.