Of ringtones and men…
One thing I will surely miss about Tokyo is the serenity of the commute. Interestingly enough, first time visitors to Tokyo criticize the “zombie culture” of Tokyo mass transportation, but if they would spend a bit more time, they would understand.
Now in Melbourne, I commute 1.5 hour each way school. A bit far, but nothing exceptional by Tokyo standards. However the Tokyo’s rules about not using phones in public transportation and switching phones to silent mode are a true bliss. In Tokyo you can relax. In Melbourne not so much. Maybe it’s simple coming from an extreme, but I feel seriously distressed every time a phone starts ringing some new hip ringtone smacked all the way up to maximum volume. Personally I keep my phone in silent mode all the time, or limit the volume to the minimum level. So what if I miss a few calls, I will call back later when it is more convenient. If there is one thing I am allergic to, it’s ringing phones… But hey, we live in modern world. But seriously, let’s take Tokyo as an example and start using the built-in ringtone profiles in the phone, the world will be a better place 
Which brings me to a device that I would like someone to develop, which could become standards. It would be a simple short distance signal emitter that would inform a mobile that it is in a “silent zone” and should shut up. These would be in public transport vehicles, cinemas and similar venues. The function could not be switched off in a same way as the camera shutter sound cannot be switched off on Japanese phone to prevent perverts from taking upskirt shots in buses etc. Now that’s innovation in action
