Modern life

Looks like they are using simple mobile phone with basic functions.

Solitary life

quite an oxymoron eh smartphone

Awaiting their Grindr dates ?

In the days of old it would've been four oyajis reading newspapers.

They wouldn't have been chatting together either then or now.

Whos are the homophobes that gave the neg thumbs ?

Must be a wi-fi hotspot for seniors!

Looks about 8000 times better than the scenery found in NYC's subways.

i want a break from my cellphone.. maybe permanently

Ah, the effortless, boundless spontaneous joie de vivre of life in Tokyo.

The renown Face-to-Face live chats are steadily drifting off.... how picturesquely sad !

Sometimes I think people love their smartphones more than human interaction. The smartphone zombies are also a menace

Speed is correct. Only the medium of distraction has changed.

Back before cell phones were available, gentlemen of this age would be reading newspapers, younger people would be reading comic books or staring into space with blank expressions on their faces; high school girls and housewives would be the only ones talking & screaming in high-pitched squeals.

The only difference? Now we can't be sure if people are keeping up with Abe's attempts at paying a ransom or playing Angry Jewel Mania.

"They wouldn't have been chatting together either then or now."

Agreed. I came here long before the sumaho-jidai and strangers were no more likely then to make eye contact with one another, let alone strike up a conversation about the weather.

Would it make any difference if they were holding printed books or newspapers?