Photo/Illutration Smartphones are indispensable tools for our daily lives. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

“Yako and Poko” is a peculiar manga by Etsuko Mizusawa.

Set in the near future, humans and robots are living together in a peaceful world where there are no smartphones. Landline telephones and fax machines are the only communication devices available, and children amuse themselves with games of ring toss and target shooting.

The protagonists are Yako, a cartoonist, and a clumsy cat-shaped robot named Poko.

As the story unfolds, we learn that this society, where old technology and new technology co-exist, underwent a “revolution” 50 years ago.

Technological development eventually led to tragedy, which in turn revolutionized the world. People stopped driving themselves and slowed down the pace of their lives.

Will this kind of reaction occur some day in real life? This fear crossed my mind, knowing how I cannot even imagine living without my smartphone.

It just doesn’t seem possible that we humans can remain happy in our lives that depend heavily on high-speed communication as inexorable advances are made in artificial intelligence technology.

Addiction to smartphones is said to be caused by dopamine, the “feel-good” hormone, which is released every time the user turns the page. This harmful effect on the mental health of young people is a major cause for concern around the world.

In “Insta-Brain,” a book by Swedish psychiatrist Anders Hansen that attracted much attention in Japan, one of the developers of the iPhone expresses his sense of guilt over the addictiveness of the device. He laments to the effect: “I wake up drenched in sweat. What on earth have we created?”

In Mizusawa’s manga, an irate academic, who has learned about the illegal manufacture of an ultra-high-efficiency robot, mutters tearfully: “Many people are going to die again. Why can’t we humans practice moderation?”

I can hear anguished screams of people who are trapped between convenience and danger.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 22

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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