Abstract
The present paper is an empirical and theoretical investigation of the process of broadband adoption and application as it exhibits itself in Japan. The overall broadband adoption rate remains suppressed even as reliable, high-speed Internet access is readily available in the most parts of Japan. Why does broadband adoption remain stagnant in Japan despite highly available network infrastructures? Our analysis suggests that the uneven distribution of cultural capital suppresses the effective adoption. Microdata analysis reveals that people with higher levels of cultural capital make the most of broadband technology by becoming avid and omnivorous users of devices and services while those with limited cultural capital are less informed about new broadband applications.
