Tom's Favorite Fun Signs from Japan

Hey folks,

Just combing through my photos from the trip to Japan last week. I always find myself taking interesting pictures of signage. Attempts to translate signs across cultures and languages always lead to some amusing confusion.

For example. This trash can claims there are no trash cans at this train station and advises you, with a heart emoji to take your trash home with you.

A translation (or if you read Japanese, you already know) revealed that this trash can is strictly for bottles from the vending machines only and not for any other trash. It really did make more sense in Japanese.

Every sign is an indication that something has happened often enough that there needs to be a sign for it. Apparently, fancy hats fall in the tracks often enough that there needs to be a sign telling you a conductor has a tool for it. Right next to the sign for a button that seemingly lets anyone stop a train!

It’s possible my niece has direct experience with this…

I love this next sign as it’s eveidnce that STOP has joined “OK” in the international lexicon.

This is a chain, and it’s all over the place, and I’m sure most people don’t think twice, but as Uni means Sea Urchin, it does make me think a bit.

I’ll have to ask my friends if this looks like the PX they remember from the base?

YES TOWER RECORDS LIVES!

This is another example that people do weird things, and thus there needs to be a sign to tell them not to. But I also love that somehow making it an AI camera is supposed to make you behave better.

Some sentiments cross boundaries

This one is just super cool Gaudi style

Might as well face it, you’re addicted to US

Pudding or Jelly?

Thank you for your time. I hope you enjoyed.

This was his status while I was writing this newsletter