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Get fit with your mobile phone
Karada Manager by au puts health and fitness at the touch of your fingers
The au company wants phone subscribers to combine technology with basic fitness.Japanese phone companies have long competed to offer their subscribers services promoting personal welfare, such as Docomo's earthquake warning system.
Now the au company has launched its own service to ensure its users stay fit.
Iwazaki-san, au's body manager.
The body manager
In a campaign popping up across Tokyo's advertisement hoardings, au's Karada Manager (body manager) service is fronted by animated character Iwazaki-san.
With pen and clipboard in hand, Iwazaki-san provides daily health and fitness tips to users and even analyzes nutritional intake.
Users can also win a luxury health check-up.
Both men and women can use the system, though with popular model Reiko Takagaki featured in commercials -- purportedly having benefited from Iwazaki-san's advice -- Japan Trends says that Karada Manager is primarily aimed at women.
Celebrity support
The service is also supported by celebrities such as former Miss Universe Japan Riyo Mori and Australian nutritional expert Erica Angyal.
Last year KDDI introduced 13 waterproof phones, just in case you need to swim while texting.
Karada Manager is a step on from au's ongoing Smart Sports project showcasing the use of the company's products in an active lifestyle.
In 2009, the company organized a competition encouraging users to walk for at least five minutes a day and measure their activity on a pedometer.
