It's ok to e-mail from your phone - not to take that call

According to the Asahi Shimbu, "passengers will be allowed to send e-mail messages and surf the mobile Internet on phones set to silent or 'manner mode'. 'Many passengers complain about people talking loudly on mobile phones and calls with noisy ringtones, but it is a stretch to say sending e-mail annoys other passengers' said a Tobu Railway Co. official."

Still according to the paper, all 17 firms (trains and buses) will call on pasengers to use the 'manner mode' or turn off the sound, although passengers will not specifically be told text messaging is permitted since some passengers still believe the practice should be banned.