Telephone cards (teleca) are prepaid cards for public phones. Launched by NTT in 1982, they sold over 500 million annually in the 1990s, with idol and anime designs becoming collector's items.
Available in 50-unit (500 yen) and 105-unit (1,050 yen) denominations, where one unit equals roughly one minute of local calling. Units decrease during calls until the card is empty.
Mobile phones drastically reduced public phone usage, but public phones remain crucial during disasters when mobile networks are congested. Public phones are exempt from disaster call restrictions, connecting preferentially. Carrying one telephone card provides emergency communication capability.
Unused cards can be applied to NTT phone bills or sold at ticket shops for 50-80% of face value.