Those of you familiar with Japanese culture are probably well aware that Japan has a lot of "unique" television shows. I remember watching nasubi and Iron Chef while I was in Japan a few years ago. Even The Simpsons got around to poking fun at the phenomenon.

Given the Japanese love affair with cell phones, it's only natural that they have created a tv show around them. According to this Washington Post article (free reg. blah blah), "One Tokyo TV station recently broadcast a reality show featuring a teenage girl whose cell phone was taken away for one week. She was reduced to tears when she finally got it back." Now *that's* what I call junkie need devotion broadcast for the masses. I guess cell phones really are all that over there.