And now, for some context
During the late 2000s, the expectation that a mobile phone would be waterproof was unique to Japan. In most other countries, waterproofing wasn't a standard feature. In Japan, however, the high incidence of water-related damage drove companies to prioritize this feature and more than 90% of mobile phones sold were waterproof back then.
This trend emerged due to frequent instances of water damage, often caused by the popular habit of taking phones into the bath, particularly among Japanese women.
You could purchase waterproof mobile phones at major electronics retailers, such as Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera, or at dedicated mobile carrier stores like NTT Docomo, SoftBank, and au. These retailers typically carried phones designed to cater specifically to the Japanese market, emphasizing features like waterproofing and often including other Japan-specific functionalities, such as digital TV tuners and mobile payment systems.
One of the earliest waterproof feature phones, Casio's Canu 502S (also known as the G'zOne), was released in 2005. This phone marked the beginning of a broader market for waterproof electronics in Japan, which even included waterproof TVs.
As of 2024, approximately 90-95% of mobile phones sold in Japan are waterproof. This is a continuation of that long-standing trend driven by cultural habits. Globally, the situation is different. While waterproof phones have gained tremendous popularity, they are still not as ubiquitous. About 60% of smartphones worldwide are estimated to be water-resistant, with many high-end devices featuring IP67 or IP68 ratings.