People who at first glance seem to be carrying on animated conversations with themselves, complete with bows and gestures and sometimes so loudly they annoy anyone near them, are a common sight nationwide. Of course, they are not conversing with imaginary listeners. As most of us know because we are among them, they are talking to real people, a colleague or business associate, a family member, friend or lover, on one of the now ubiquitous mobile telephones that have transformed the whens, wheres and hows of interpersonal communications for much of the world.

Some commentators express surprise that the Japanese, not known for expressing their opinions publicly, should have embraced the tiny phones so wholeheartedly. They may be overlooking the greater anonymity that mobile phones provide, since one of their conveniences -- as well as potential dangers -- is that they can be used surreptitiously, away from prying eyes and ears.

There can no longer be any doubt about their increasing acceptance. As of the end of March, subscribers to mobile-phone services -- for cellular phones, personal handy-phone systems and special car phones -- totaled 56.72 million, for the first time outnumbering the 55.66 million subscribers to established fixed-line phone services.