Mobile novels surge in Japan

The Japanese site Maho i-land has a huge community of members devoted to reading and writing novels on mobile phones. Three years ago, the site had 30,000 members. Since then, mobile operators have offered affordable flat rate wireless internet and mobile data usage has surged. Maho now has over six-million members.

While typing a 200 page novel on your mobile phone may not be everybody’s cup of tea, for some it has become second nature. “PCs might be easier to type on, but I’ve had a cellphone since I was in sixth grade, so it’s easier for me to use,” says Ms. Nakamura, who has written eight novels on her little phone.