Really? I have yet to see any Japanese concerted effort from Japanese carriers to create an iPhone like device. Since the iPhone, it has been more or less status quo in Japan, with the Japanese devices focusing more on new gimmicky features like solar powered recharging or a "3D display", rather than focusing on improving overall usability.

Sure, Japanese TV covered the launch this morning, showing people lining up to buy the iPhone. But that's just because Japanese TV likes to show people lining up for things, be it the opening of the hottest new fashion store, or some ramen shop. Furthermore, because the line between advertisement and actual programming is so thin in Japan, I would not be surprised if Apple or SoftBank (the official carrier of iPhone and iPad) had something to do with this.

So all in all, unlike these stories we've been seeing in the West, I don't believe Apple products have had much of an effect on the Japanese market. And that's unfortunate, as Japanese companies could learn something from them.