The most popular smartphone in Japan. Japanese phones
Japan, for all its technological advancement, remains one of the few islands of hope (literally and figuratively) where push-button phones have not yet become extinct. The Japanese themselves explain why this happens.
The author of the Japanese online publication ITMedia, who interviewed several users of “simple phones”, believes that there are three main reasons for this.
Firstly, habit. People (and we’re not just talking about the elderly) want to use familiar and familiar things. Many people do not want to learn the complex structure of smartphones only to then continue to make calls from them. Habit is a powerful force, and, as the author assures, sometimes it is even difficult for a person to get used to it after switching from a “push-button” device from one manufacturer to a similar “push-button device” from another, let alone a completely different method of interaction.
Panasonic W61P, one of the many Japanese clamshells with an automatic opening button
Secondly, these are the prices of smartphones. And you shouldn’t be surprised that in fairly prosperous Japan, people, for the most part, also cannot afford smartphones for a thousand dollars - this is not a question of poverty, but of economy, frugality and practical calculation. Again, a person does not see the need to buy a brand new smartphone with a short life cycle for a lot of money, just to use it as a “dialer”. And you shouldn’t take cheap smartphones into account either - the impressions of “smart” phones in a low price category can discourage you from using them forever, and they will become obsolete within a day after purchase.
Salon of NTT Docomo operator
And finally, the author calls the third reason nothing less than “smartphones are scary.” No, this is not about design (although this is partly true too), but about the fear of complex processes occurring inside such a small computing device. “Will I catch a virus from it?” - these users ask. They worry that it is much easier to steal personal data from a smartphone, and it contains many times more data than in regular phones. You can go to a “wrong” site, you can open an infected letter, you can install an application with malicious code (and sometimes there are even such in official stores like Google Play), while on a push-button phone you can’t do almost any of the above, but write malicious code Software for “simple” platforms like BREW is not profitable for attackers, so it is almost impossible to find one like this.
It is for such people that modern Japanese clamshells, based on a slightly stripped-down version of Android, are intended. And although such devices cannot boast of the former simplicity and conciseness of the interface, in return they have acquired support for fourth generation networks (in Japan there is a systematic abandonment of outdated cellular networks), as well as the installation of instant messengers (the main messenger for the Japanese is LINE, the popularity of which is surpassing all conceivable records, Western “Telegrams” and “WhatsApps” are still far from their indicators). That is why such devices occupy their highly specialized niche and are unlikely to leave it in the near future.
If you want to learn more about current push-button smartphones, we recommend that you read our reviews of Japanese folding phones
For many years, Japanese manufacturers have maintained a positive reputation in the eyes of customers. Lexus, Sony, Sharp, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Fujitsu are brands that are trusted all over the world. No wonder thatrating of Japanese smartphones2016 interests many users.includes not only models sold worldwide, but also devices released for the domestic market. Despite the difficulties in purchasing them in Russia, these devices deserve attention and a place in this review.The best Japanese smartphones, available on the worldwide market (and not just in the Land of the Rising Sun itself, and even with a contract from NTT DoCoMo), are produced by Sony. Therefore, you should not be surprised that more than one model from this brand was included in the review.
5th place: Panasonic Eluga L 4G. Best budget employee
Panasonic Eluga L 4G is a smartphone from the category of devices that are difficult to find here. This seemingly unremarkable smartphone was included in the rating of Japanese smartphones due to its thickness. It amounts to only 6 mm, which is less than any flagship in 2016. Otherwise, the characteristics of the Panasonic Eluga L 4G are not outstanding, and the device is from the “state budget” category, except for the price of about 180$ (for which you can buy 3-4 similar models from China), it stands out only for its support LTE.
As of 2016, the characteristics of the Panasonic Eluga L 4G can be called, although unremarkable, quite modern. These include quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 1 gigabyte of RAM and storage on 8 GB(MicroSD flash drives are also supported), and also, which is very unusual for a “Japanese” - support for 2 SIM cards.
The Panasonic Eluga L 4G may not be able to take high-quality photos (the main camera has a resolution of only 8 MP), but it should not lag behind its competitors in this regard. You can view the footage at 5-inch screen with HD resolution.
2000 mAh battery looks modest, even compared to smaller 4.5″ models. But considering that this is Japanese technology, one can hope that the stated figures exactly correspond to reality.
4th place: Kyocera Brigadier. The best smartphone for extreme sports enthusiasts
Kyocera Brigadier hitTOP best Japanese smartphones2016 is not for novelty (the models are already more than a year old), but for survivability. This does not mean the length of time it spends on the assembly line (iPhone 5s, for example, has been successfully produced for three years now), but high strength. This is a smartphone that is certified in accordance with the requirements of military organizations and is designed to work in extreme conditions. Besides, it is capable of working underwater at a depth of up to 1.5 meters.
4.5-inch HD screensmartphone coveredsapphire crystal, which in terms of reliability gives odds to the popular Corning Gorilla Glass and Asahi Dragontail. It is almost impossible to scratch a synthetic mineral, even if you deliberately run an army knife over it. Therefore, extreme sports enthusiasts will definitely like the use of artificial sapphire.
Quad-core Snapdragon 400 processorIt is considered morally obsolete, but it hardly lags behind its heirs and holds up well against its competitors. In combination with2 GB RAMThe chipset's performance is enough for all tasks. Only in heavy games is it possible to reduce performance, but gamers are far from the main target audience of this device.
In a thick “armored” case, the manufacturer placed3100 mAh battery. Considering the diagonal (only 4.5″), the smartphone should demonstrate decent autonomy. 
The price of the “armored car” may scare away potential buyers. On international trading platforms they are asking for itabout 1000 dollars.
3rd place: Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. Best screen
It is impossible not to include inTOP best Japanese smartphonesSony Xperia Z5 Premium. This -The world's first mobile device equipped with a 4K resolution display. And this is with a relatively modest (considering that the vast majority of 32-inch TVs are now equipped with a regular FullHD matrix)diagonal 5.5″.
The characteristics of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium in 2016 are just as impressive as they were six months ago.Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processoris still good, and the problem of its overheating was solved using a heat pipe. In combination with3 GB RAMThe device demonstrates excellent performance, which is sufficient for any task.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium also allows you to take high-quality photos without any problems.23 MP matrixcopes well both in bright light and in low light conditions. Naturally, there was also video recording in UHD resolution.
3430 mAh battery, in combination with optimized firmware, it makes it possible to actively use your smartphone all day long.
Finding the Z5 Premium on sale in Europe will not be difficult. To become a smartphone owner in Russia, you will have to payabout 60 thousand rubles.
2nd place: Sony Xperia C5 Ultra. Best affordable phablet
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra is a smartphone for those who cannot imagine their life without a big screen. Even against the background of phablets, it stands out large6″ diagonal, when resolved FullHD. The device demonstrates high-quality color rendition, its screen is easy to read in the sun.
Compared to its Chinese competitors, the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra's specs don't really stand out. However, given the origins of the device, you can expect excellent quality and thoughtful implementation of functionality.Octa-core processor MT6752, of course, can be found in Xiaomi or Meizu, but well-thought-out software from the Japanese allows you to more effectively realize its potential.2 GB RAM– not that much, but enough for most users.
13 MP cameraallows you to get Sony Xperia C5 Ultra photos of quite acceptable quality. Compared to its competitors, it differs for the better with less noise and artifacts. Another feature of the photographic part of the device isthe presence of a front flash next to the same 13 MP front camera. Selfie lovers will definitely not pass by.
The price of the smartphone is also not bad: Russian retail chains are asking up to25 thousand.
1st place: Sharp Aquos Zeta SH-03G
Sharp Aquos Zeta toppedrating of the best Japanese smartphonesfrom behind your screen. To be more precise -A special feature of the device is the thickness of the frames around the display, which are minimal. The maximum size of the usable area of the front panel, but without compromising ergonomics, is the main idea of the device.
The characteristics of the Sharp Aquos Zeta are quite modern and worthy of a flagship. The smartphone is built on the basisOcta-core Snapdragon 810 processor and equipped 3 GB RAMAnd. Looks good compared to competitorspresence of a slot for a memory card, which many people now simply “forget” to install. Thus, to32 GByour memory - you can add another 128 external ones.
Sharp Aquos Zeta allows you to take good photos13 MP camera, which has good With f/1.9 aperture ratio, equipped with fast autofocus and LED flash. The advantage of the device is the ability to record video in 4K resolution.
Sharp Aquos Zeta is responsible for image output5.5" displayproduced by Sharp itself. It has standard resolution1920x1080and shows good picture quality.
Responsible for autonomy3000 mAh battery, standard for most phablets. This capacity is not enough to ensure operation without recharging for weeks, but for a day or two of moderate use it is enough.
Order price 800 dollarscan be called fair for a flagship (especially when compared with Apple equipment, which is in the same price category).
To explore more Japanese and other smartphones- take a look at our catalog using the link:
Japan can hardly be called a market leader in telephone production. But this country still has a couple. In addition, the popularity of Japanese manufacturers is associated with the quality of their products and their durability. Therefore, there was no doubt that the smartphones would be produced to last.
Japan Technologies
Phones from Japan appeared not so long ago. Although the country is considered a leader in high technology, the percentage of its products on the world market is not as high as manufacturers might like.
What do buyers know about Japanese companies? Previously, VCRs from Sony were extremely popular. This manufacturer has been on the market for a long time, so it copes well with the needs of customers.
The Sharp company turned out to be no less popular. It also produces tape recorders and televisions. And recently it has become known thanks to the production of phones from Japan.
Manufacturers in Japan
Since we are talking about smartphones, here are a few sought-after manufacturers that supply their devices to stores around the world. Of course, few become popular, but the product that is truly high-quality and reliable easily attracts the attention of buyers.
Well-known companies that sell Japanese phones today are:
- Kyocera;
- Sharp;
- Fujitsu;
- Panasonic;
- Sony.
Each company has several current models that are worth talking about in more detail.
Kyocera
This is a Japanese company that has been in business since 1959. Its headquarters is located in Kyoto. Kyocera now works with high-tech ceramics: kitchen knives, cutting tools and electronic components. The manufacturer is also known for its cell phones in Japan and office equipment.
The company is sensitive to the environment and promotes its protection, and also focuses on improving the quality of life of society.
Kyocera phones
Urbano V01 is one of the quite trending mobile phones in Japan. This is an unusual model that stands out among all modern smartphones. The model is equipped with a 5-inch display with FullHD resolution. The main camera produces 13 megapixel images.
The manufacturer installed the newfangled Snapdragon 801 processor and 2 GB of RAM. The battery of the smartphone has a capacity of 3 thousand mAh. This is enough for a full day of moderate use. The feature of the model is IP58 protection against water and dust.
Urbano L03 is a similar phone from Japan. Outwardly, it is practically no different. Its shape has become more arched. The model is special in that it has the same characteristics as the previous one, but costs $200 less. What this is connected with is unclear.
Kyocera also has a specialized smartphone - Brigadier. This model is aimed at those who value reliability and security in their phone. The smartphone is rare because it has an ornate design, and therefore has never become popular with buyers.
The manufacturer used sapphire glass, which perfectly protects the 4.5-inch screen. The phone does not have any particularly powerful technical characteristics, but it will be quite enough to perform everyday tasks. The battery capacity is 3100 mAh. The model works with IP68 technology.
Sharp
Sharp is a leading Japanese corporation that produces electronics. The company was founded in 1912 and is located in Osaka. The manufacturer deals with Japanese cell phones, video and audio systems, household appliances, and information equipment.
Also known are printing and copying systems, microcircuits, electronic components and liquid crystal displays developed by this company. The company has a division that is specifically engaged in the production of high-end equipment.
Sharp phones
Sharp models are more popular among buyers in the CIS. This is due to the fact that some variants are sold outside of Japan, and therefore are widely known. One of these models was Aquos Crystal.
These smartphones are designed with an unusual design. It has thin frames on the left, right and top, but at the bottom the manufacturer left a large free area to place the logo, front camera and speakers.
The buyer has access to a 5-inch screen and an 8-megapixel main camera. Inside there is a mediocre “filling” that allows you to use the model only for everyday tasks. But 1.5 GB of RAM is very little. And the battery capacity of 2040 mAh is unlikely to help the phone “live” half a day.
The Aquos line doesn't end there. For example, the Zeta SH-01G model looks almost the same as the previous version, but the frames around the display have become wider and the speakers have been moved to the top. This model also has a 5.5-inch screen and can shoot video in 4K.
Xx 304SH is another copy of previous models. An interesting solution was the introduction of touch-sensitive volume buttons on the bottom panel of the phone next to the front camera. Hidden under the 5.2-inch display is the Snapdragon 801 processor, as well as a 2GB RAM chip.
The real flagship in the line is considered to be the Aquos Crystal X. This is one of the first phones from Japan to hit the market without a frame. The screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches and FullHD resolution. But the “stuffing” of the device is not the most powerful. There is only 2 GB of RAM inside, but the Snapdragon 801 will definitely provide performance.
Fujitsu
This is a large Japanese company that deals with IT and electronics production. It is known for its servers, data storage systems, and personal systems. The latter include laptops and tablets, zero clients, personal computers, workstations and peripherals.
Fujitsu phones
Despite the fact that Fujitsu's photographic equipment is considered the most popular, there are a couple of phone models that have not become popular in the CIS. They are in many ways reminiscent of Sony gadgets.
The Arrows NX F-05F model has rounded bottom corners and sharp top corners. This design solution is very unusual. Otherwise, this phone from Japan is no different from previous models. It still uses a Snapdragon processor and 2 GB of RAM. A special feature of this model is a 20.7 megapixel camera.
Panasonic
This is the most popular Japanese corporation. It produces household appliances and electrical goods. Most users know about Panasonic photographic equipment, but have never heard of phones from this manufacturer.
The Lumix DMC-CM1 is a true camera phone and the company's first attempt at making a phone. Its special feature was the presence of a Leica lens. Despite the “trick” of the device, a powerful processor and 2 GB of RAM were installed inside. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not make sure that the phone could work for a long time and equipped it with a 2600 mAh battery.
Sony
And although in Japan the iPhone X is considered, the Japanese also do not forget about domestic production. Therefore, Sony Xperia with all its models are still considered very high-quality and powerful devices.
One of the cult models was the Z1. Now this smartphone is many years old, so it has been replaced by the new XZ line. The XZ1 model is equipped with powerful hardware, has 4 GB of RAM and a 5.2-inch screen. As always, the phone operates according to the IP68 standard.
Models of these smartphones have become popular in the CIS countries. They captivated the buyer with their appearance and powerful hardware. In addition, Sony phones were among the first that worked easily in water and did not collect dust.
The Z line became the most popular. Starting with Sony, the Japanese released many new models that became better and better. For some time, the popularity of these phones subsided, so the company decided to rebrand and released the XZ line.
New smartphones have an updated design, a fingerprint scanning button and a camera module. Sony developers tried to preserve the corporate style, so most fans of the brand were not scared off even by the high cost of the new products.
What phones are popular in Japan? Of course, the Japanese love their manufacturers and often purchase smartphones from Sony or Sharp. But, as statistics show, it was the American company Apple that was able to convince the Japanese of the quality of its products, so they clearly give preference to gadgets with an apple.
About other…
Japan is considered one of the most popular car manufacturers in the world. Therefore, the famous Toyota remains relevant both in its homeland and throughout the world. After it, Nissan is no less popular. This suggests that so far they are turning out better than Japanese phones.
"Japan Auto" in Murmansk is a popular store in Russia that provides spare parts for those same Japanese cars. Therefore, if you decide to buy a new Nissan, you don’t have to worry about finding spare parts.
It’s worth starting with how an ordinary person could even come up with the idea of using Japanese phones. This happened differently for everyone. It would be logical to tell how this happened in my case. In the early 00s, I worked in Moscow as an ordinary designer at the German marketing agency Doll&Partners, and my phone at that time was a Siemens C35. Like many boys who understand (or think they understand) the topic, the limit of my dreams then was the legendary ME45, nicknamed “Messer”. Then, as far as I remember, it was almost the only phone whose body met the IP54 protection level. There was something bold and catchy about him. Perhaps even the thought that it could be thrown into the water gave confidence to my fragile body. Of course, like most office plankton, at that time my dreams were strictly limited to salary and permanent gigs. But, nevertheless, I was systematically approaching my cherished goal.
And then one day my German boss came from Germany and brought with him NEC N21i. Many people probably remember that Nokia, Siemens and Motorola were considered the most popular brands of that time. The logical question for me was why the pedantic German chose some kind of NEC. What is this and why? How was it better than the fashionable flagships of that time? And the very fact that a native German does not use phones from one of the coolest manufacturers in the world created even more noise in my head.
Japanese mobile phone NEC N21i
For those who are not aware or have forgotten what Japanese phones were like until recently, let me remind you. This is, first of all, something beyond the understanding of the average person who is used to using something like Samsung, iPhone or Huawei. Many owners of modern mobile phones associate Japan with technological progress on a cosmic scale, which is rarely talked about anywhere, and if the information does come to a person’s field of view, it has an impression on him that borders on shock. Exactly the same sensations arose when I first looked at the then outlandish NEC N21i, and after some time I became the proud owner of the treasured Japanese folding phone. It was from that moment that I became infected with this topic, which has not let me go to this day. Over the next few years, I tried almost all the Japanese ones, officially and unofficially presented in Germany and other European countries: NEC N22i, NEC N820, NEC N830, Sharp 902SH, 903SH, 904SH.
NEC N412i and Sharp Vodafone 402SH
Further more. Towards the end of the 00s I discovered the Japanese market. A whole scattering of unprecedented little animals of all stripes, colors and form factors. All this heterogeneous variety was in stark contrast to what was offered by the then Siemens, Nokia and Motorola. By the way, let’s talk about how Japanese phones immediately differed from those that we could purchase at Euroset or Svyaznoy. Look, for example, how the then current flagship SonyEricsson T610 looked against the background of the SonyEricsson SO505i rotator for the NTT Docomo operator.
Sony Ericsson SO505i 2003
Sony Ericsson T610 2003
I don’t argue that you can compare such things for as long as you like, and as a result, everyone will remain with their own truth. But what began with the advent of the era of smart phones can safely be called the decline of true Japanese traditions. And it was the current situation in the Japanese mobile market that made me write this article.
The first Android smartphone SonyEricsson Docomo SO-01B Xperia (X10 for the global market) was released in Japan on April 1, 2010
In the late 00s, manufacturers began releasing their first smartphone models. I won’t dwell on the topic of who tried to promote which operating system, this is a secondary issue. The fact remained that the telephone was becoming something more than just a dialer with the ability to send short messages. History was being created before our eyes, a new era was emerging.
While on June 29, 2007, Steve Jobs began selling his first, with some reservations, “revolutionary” iPhone around the world, the Japanese from the same NTT Docomo, as if suspecting nothing, are introducing as many as 23 new push-button phones. It's no secret that the Japanese were previously perceived by everyone as a nation that always felt the needs of the modern buyer, constantly being at the forefront of progress. Many of my peers, and especially older people, immediately remember the Japanese classics of those times: television video doubles, cassette audio and video recorders, right-hand drive cars and a bunch of other things. The fact that not a single smartphone was presented in the new collection of the country’s largest mobile operator was the first wake-up call for me at that moment. The Japanese championship was lost. But, I admit, hopes glimmered.
Collection of new NTT Docomo products 2008
Japan is a country closed from the outside world, a country unto itself. It is no secret to many that the Japanese treat everything new with suspicion and distrust, and to change this consciousness requires a lot of effort, money and time. Subjecting long-standing traditions and foundations to deformation is considered bad form. What other smartphones? Who needs them if the whole country is already very good at using push-button phones? The habit was so deeply ingrained in the minds of producers that they completely ignored what was happening outside their country. Looking ahead, I will say that the Japanese to this day believe that they are doing the right thing by ignoring progress that is not led by them. By Japanese, of course, I mean the manufacturers. By the way, the same Sony for two more years in a row continued to churn out, albeit incredibly beautiful, but already friendly rows of push-button clamshells lined up for pension certificates, mixing them with the first Xperia Arc, Xperia Acro, Xperia Ray. SonyEricsson began mass-producing smartphones only in 2012, when interest in Google’s “green robot” increased on the part of most companies.
If you think that Sony was the only Japanese manufacturer that did not want to move away from the “push-button” handbrake, then you are mistaken. A similar situation was observed among all its competitors in the local telephone workshop. Also in 2010, Sharp introduced its debut Android smartphone LYNX SH-10B. The new product resembled a miniature laptop and was equipped with a 5-inch touchscreen display and a hardware QWERTY keyboard. By offering such a unique hardware-touch hybrid, Sharp decided to carefully prepare push-button phone users for a new type of smart device - touchscreen smartphones. By the way, in the same summer collection NTT Docomo"10 Toshiba decided to follow a similar path, releasing the Dynapocket T-01B slider. The only thing is that Toshiba developers decided to use Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional as the operating system.
Sharp LYNX SH-10B
Toshiba Dynapocket T-01B
The debut smartphone on Android 2.3 from Panasonic Docomo P-07C went on sale on August 13, 2011. The world's first thinnest (7.7 mm) Android smartphone MEDIAS WP N-04C from NEC debuted on March 15, 2011. Docomo F-12C is the first Android smartphone released on August 7, 2011 in Japan under the Fujitsu brand. Two weeks earlier, everyone could purchase the first Fujitsu F-07C LOOX hybrid slider, which had a full version of Windows 7 Home Premium as the main operating system. For standard functions such as phone calls, SMS, camera, the then standard OS based on MOAP/Symbian, installed on ordinary push-button phones, was used.
NEC MEDIAS WP N-04C
Fujitsu Docomo F-12C
Fujitsu LOOX F-07C
What the Japanese of that time lacked was creativity and bold decisions. Unlike their European colleagues, the technical capabilities of the Japanese of those times easily kept up with the crazy ideas of designers, which, for example, in the same summer collection NTT Docomo"10 ultimately affected the variety of form factors. This is what they are now trying to squeeze out in every possible way the best minds of Samsung, Huawei, Apple and other giants of technical thought. What we see in the end is an incredibly expensive flexible display, symbolizing for now only the position of a particular company on the podium. From the outside, all these presentations of flexible smartphones looked like baby babble in a sandbox, when kids brag to each other about which bright shovel or rake their parents bought.
If we take 2007 as a reference, when the “standard of style” went on sale, then all the other “poor” and undecided manufacturers played the role of catching up. As the main operating system in 07-09. can safely be considered the now defunct Symbian. Nokia, Samsung, HTC, Motorola and LG were considered the undoubted leaders. Some of them preferred to stay on Symbian, while others, like Motorola and HTC, were actively mastering Android. Global manufacturers were confidently investing in the new direction, and the buyer was happy to give his hard-earned money for the product he liked. The range of smartphones is growing day by day.
Motorola Milestone
However, you must agree that at that time it was simply unrealistic to hear about leadership or at least a significant presence in the global mobile market of such companies as Fujitsu, Panasonic, NEC or Sharp. Yes, the Japanese “tried”, “tried very hard” to get into the pockets of Russian subscribers through the same “Euroset” and “Svyaznoy”, but those pathetic attempts to cling to our ears each time ended in nothing. Either there was not enough knowledge of the market, or there was no suitable assortment. And, as you can see, nothing has changed since then. In fact, everything, as usual, rested on the intransigence of the people responsible for making the final decisions. The Japanese "do the best, but do the slowest possible" approach to business has not worked outside of Japan itself. This, of course, does not apply to the automotive industry, which has risen to the top in terms of quality and reliability among other world leaders in the industry. But this is a completely different topic that deserves a separate article.
If you trace the history of the development of the mobile industry in the Land of the Rising Sun, it becomes obvious that the “Japanese fault” dates back to the mid-00s. Furious competition and limited opportunities for market development played a cruel joke on the overly smart Japanese. One after another, the mobile divisions of the largest Japanese companies begin to be reorganized, sold, resold, and eventually disappear. The oversaturated Japanese market began to devour itself, not allowing energy to come out. At the same time, none of the manufacturers even tried to find a way out of this situation. The Japanese stoically observed the ancient custom of committing seppuku (harakiri), “demonstrating their courage in the face of pain and death and the purity of their thoughts before gods and people.” In other words, all the best must remain in Japan and under no circumstances must fall into the hands of a “gaijin.” The impression was created that as soon as some Sharp or Fujitsu hits the shelves of Russian retailers and starts selling hotly, hell will open up and small but proud Japan will disappear from the face of the earth. The Japanese will, of course, never allow this to happen. So be it! Banzai!
And then it began... In 2004, Casio and Hitachi created a joint subsidiary, Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, and in 2010 NEC absorbed both, after which in 2013 the Chinese Lenovo bought out NEC itself. The company's last smartphone, MEDIAS X N-06E, was released the same year, and the following year, 2014, the latest Android clamshell, Docomo N-01G, was released. NEC phones were forgotten.
NEC MEDIAS X N-06E
NEC Docomo N-01G
Fierce competition and a steady decline in demand forced the management of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation to announce the closure of its mobile business. Over the entire existence of the brand (1983-2008), the company's losses amounted to about 17 billion yen. Into the oven!
Mitsubishi D905i, D705i, D705iμ
In 2010, Fujitsu merged with Toshiba, fully purchasing the latter's share in 2012. Fujitsu continues to produce Android smartphones to this day.
Fujitsu Arrows NX F-01K
Fujitsu Docomo F-04D
In 2016, the Chinese giant Foxconn buys more than 60% of the shares of the Japanese Sharp, reserving the right to use the technology and brand outside Japan and China. But disagreements between the Japanese and Chinese management, as well as the inability to come to an agreement, lead the company to inadequate prices for the budget models Sharp AQUOS D10, AQUOS C10 and B10 in the European market. Even after merging with the Chinese, Sharp still refuses plans to enter markets in other countries.
Sharp AQUOS R2 compact
For exactly the same reasons, at the end of 2016, Panasonic left the mobile phone market, releasing its latest Android flip phone, Smart K-tai P-01J. The secure smartphone TOUGHBOOK P-01K, which was released at the end of 2018, is designed for the corporate, not the consumer, sector. Due to its weak technical characteristics and high cost, the model looks more like a collector's edition than a device on which the manufacturer would like to make money. Where is the logic? Only the Japanese god knows.
Now, after the passage of time, we can only talk intelligently about the reasons for such a sharp Japanese telephone “slowdown”. The fact remains that the Japanese have lost the telephone market, not only the global one, but even their own. The most purchased smartphone in Japan has been the iPhone for many years now. Apple's special purchasing conditions and massive marketing policy are clearly bearing fruit. Samsung, Sharp and Fujitsu have their own considerable share of the Japanese market, but all of them are present in the summary tables of various analytical agencies solely on a residual basis. Even the way Sony tries to regain its lost glory looks like a squad of samurai watching from their perch as their comrade tries to get out of an icy hole. In vain. While all non-Japanese manufacturers literally lick every customer, even if they stupidly copy others, the Japanese decided to simply withdraw themselves, so as not to lose their honor and dignity. Is this the right approach from a business perspective? Not sure.
I admit, I, like many fans of Japanese phones, still have hopes for a quick revival of the former glory of Japanese telecom. However, every year these hopes fade. We need a breakthrough, we need a real revolution. Nowadays there is a clear stagnation in the smartphone market. Yes, everyone understands that a modern telephone can even replace a desktop computer. The second question is whether there are any tasks that such powerful mobile processors coupled with a bunch of gigabytes of memory, etc. should solve. But either we have already become greedy from the abundance of offers, or the last spark in the eyes of the manufacturers has gone out.
As for me, against the backdrop of everything that is happening, disappearing Japanese phones acquire special value, moving to the big league, sometimes even becoming collectibles. By the way, some old models of Japanese folding phones in new condition now cost fabulous money.
In the modern world, global changes are constantly taking place. Someone is buying someone, someone is dying due to the financial problems of the general director, who is squandering billions in the casino, and someone, having taken a steep start and not calculating their strength, is trying to challenge the superiority of the mastodons of the industry. We are seizing the moment, because literally tomorrow afternoon any of the few remaining Japanese companies may announce their withdrawal from this market. How many of them are left there? Fingers of one hand are enough: Fujitsu, Kyocera, Sharp, Sony. Yes, in the same way any other Japanese (near-Japanese) brand could appear tomorrow. Now it’s not difficult: you put forward a bold idea, drew a concept, edited a promotional video, put it up on Kickstarter, raised money, released a product, made money. Companies come and go: Ericsson, Siemens, Mode1, Freetel, Trinity, Vaio...
What do you think about this? Where will manufacturers ultimately lead us?
Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, Huawei - the most common smartphone brands today have in their line a dozen models that differ little from each other. They all have the same thing - rectangles with rounded edges, only the screen diagonal and the technical “filling” are different. Against such a faded background of world leaders, Japanese companies are, as always, ahead of the rest. Even if it's not a mass product...
Panasonic Lumix CM1
Point-and-shoot smartphone? Please! In Panasonic Lumix CM1, Japanese engineers were the first in the world to combine a smartphone with a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor. From the back, the Lumix CM1 looks like a real camera, and only when you turn it to the side do you realize that it is a hybrid. The weighty gadget has a 4.7-inch Full HD screen, a 4-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory for data storage.
However, despite its size, the Panasonic Lumix CM1 did not have a capacious battery; it’s clearly not possible to shoot all day long with a 2600 mAh battery. The issue of housing protection also remains unresolved. Today, even in a small iok store you can buy cases of all types for any gadgets from well-known manufacturers, but it is not known what a Lumix CM1 buyer should do.
Docomo Sharp Q-Pot SH-04D Chocolate Phone
Remember Sharp? It did not experience any particular success in our market, so it is difficult to imagine that the “chocolate” smartphone Docomo Sharp Q-Pot SH-04D Chocolate Phone would have enjoyed success. This “folding phone” does not stand out in anything remarkable, except for the unusual case, made in the shape of a chocolate bar. By the way, there were two options to choose from: strawberry and chocolate. 
Docomo Touch Wood SH-08C
Sharp didn’t stop at chocolate, and together with Olympus they released a smartphone in a solid wooden case. The material has undergone special treatment, so the manufacturer promised a “decent” service life. 
Sharp Aquos Crystal 2
And again a creation from Sharp. The smartphone with the most ordinary characteristics was equipped with a frameless body, thanks to which it looks futuristic, as if from the near future. 
NEC Medias W N-05E Dual Screen
One screen is good, but two is better, NEC tells us and offers a smartphone with a pair of 4.3-inch screens with qHD resolution. The gadget folds out like a book. And who will say after this that 5-inch new products from Samsung and Apple are inconvenient? 
Fujitsu Arrows NX F-04G
Fujitsu has released a flagship specifically for the Japanese market with a very affordable price tag: $750. The feature of the smartphone is the iris scanner, which is used to remove the lock. Yes, yes, this despite the fact that even a fingerprint scanner is used in some gadgets. Other characteristics of the device are also pleasing: a 5.2-inch QHD screen, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, and a powerful Snapdragon 810 processor. 
Disney Mobile on DoCoMo DM-01G
Manufacturers often offer special devices tailored for specific markets and mobile operators. So the Korean LG has released a device in the style of a Disney cartoon for the Japanese market. It differs from the basic Disney Mobile device only in appearance. 
Casio G"zOne CA-201L
Everyone knows or has heard about Casio watches, but the Japanese also have smartphones under this brand. The rugged smartphone G"zOne CA-201L has mediocre characteristics (2 cores, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of memory, screen with a resolution of 480x800) and complements the special line of G-series watches. 
Fujitsu Docomo F-09C
The Japanese produce many things exclusively for the local market. So we can’t find the camera smart Fujitsu Docomo F-09C (and who needs it?). At the time of its appearance, it already had non-competitive characteristics, but stood out strongly for its form factor. 
Infobar C01
Bold design is definitely about the Japanese. Designer Naoto Fukosawa, who designed the Infobar C01 in a minimalist style, knows how to turn an ordinary candy bar into an exclusive one. 