Young, single Tokyoites spend 40 percent of their living expenses on food, drink and phone bills, according to a recent survey.
In the January survey, Tokyo-based credit card firm UC Card Co. polled 500 single people in their 20s. Respondents reported they spend an average of 122,000 yen a month on living expenses, with 45,600 yen going on "communication" outlays, which include food, drink, recreation, travel and phone/e-mail charges.
Food, drink, recreation and travel accounted for 27,553 yen of the communication bill, while phone/e-mail charges accounted for 10,294 yen. Postage came to 134 yen per month on average, less than the amount needed to post two items domestically.
Asked how their lifestyle would change without the ubiquitous mobile phones, more than half of those polled said they would save on phone bills.
When asked what form of communication was likely to disappear, most respondents picked the "love letter."