Kyodo News The Internet set the scene, cellular phones followed, and now convenience stores have jumped on the bandwagon, drastically changing the way people in Japan buy tickets for concerts, plays and sports events.
Advances in communications technology are making online ticket purchasing a virtual must for music fans, while tickets for some sports events and stage dramas are following suit.
Boosting the trend is the emergence of i-mode mobile phones linked to the Internet, and ticket agents have inaugurated a lottery system for buyers prior to the day tickets go on sale.