ABSTRACT
With such a radical breakthrough in the handling of Japanese script occurring over a relatively short period and spreading so rapidly, it was only to be expected that people would voice concerns about changes in the nature of written Japanese which followed on from the use of the new technology. The specific focus of those concerns was how script, and in particular kanji, was now used. The switch from what had been a culture of handwriting to one of easily produced print gave rise to fears that the nature of text would be transformed in unacceptable ways; this had to be balanced against the clear advantages of the word processor for handling and storing text. The debate over the first fifteen years ranged from the mere listing of the quantifiable changes already observable (or already perceived as occurring, despite lack of hard evidence) to broader concerns about changes to the overall language system of Japanese. This chapter will examine these concerns and the implications of any substantive changes for Japan's existing script policy.
