August

There was a time when finding one’s way around Japan’s rail lines required extraordinary effort, determination, and a bit of luck. Literacy helped as well, but most newly arrived foreigners were out of luck in that regard. The most challenging part was getting the tickets, which required deciphering the maps, figuring out the ticket machines, and finally remembering your ticket. Then came IC cards, which simplified this process. Just charge your card with cash and tap your way through the gates. Plus, you can use the card for everything from vending machines to paying for things at convenience stores. Long live the IC card!   But what if we could improve even further? Dare we try? Let’s upgrade our IC cards to the Mobile Suica in the spirit of kaizen (gradual improvement). What is it? Thanks to technology, it is easier than ever to use your Suica card on your mobile devices, such as a smartphone or even Apple Watch. Once the Suica card is saved in the Suica app, you can tap it instead of bothering with the card at turnstiles, vending machines, etc. Most made-for-Japan Android smartphones, and “feature phones” before them, have had this ability for over…