The pervasive influence of digital media was highlighted on June 7 by the announcement of recommendations for changes in the authorized list of kanji for everyday use. A government advisory panel has proposed adding 196 kanji and removing five for a total of 2,136 characters.
Many of those to be added are difficult ones like utsu (psychological depression), which are now easier to use thanks to mobile phones and computers. In addition, ore (informal "I") has been added, as it was the most frequently used kanji on Web sites that was not included on the earlier list.
Meanwhile, many publishers seem to regard the heralded arrival of iPad in Japan at the end of last month with dread as the latest "black ship" from America. Although some forms of e-content have spread, such as electronic dictionaries and manga for mobile phones, e-books are not yet established here.