Japan Travel Mate » Japrish

Japrish – Hilarious and Bewildering English in Japan

JTM — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 05:30:12 +0000

It’s been far too long since a Japrish post has been published here. Since I’ve been living in Japan I’ve been snapping away and saving up some awesome Japrish photos.

Japrish is basically my own version of Engrish. It’s all from Japan – and it’s not that it’s bad English (although many times it is) – more that it is somehow strange and amusing. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…

The Super Great Feeling Bringing Fake Beer

A limited edition beer from about 2 years ago.

A kind of Japanese beer – actually called happoshu, which has a lower content and I classify it as fake beer – brought out about 2 years ago in a limited release. The ads for it were hilarious, dudes would take a big swig and react like someone you’d see on a Solo ad.

I Challenge You To A Sale

I dare you... break the price!

There was an awesome example a few months ago of a shop in Osaka posting a sale sign with swear words printed in huge letters. This one gets the message across… in a challenging way.

Mentally Challenge You With A Truck

Hoping this one doesn't live up to its name.

Snapped this one day on a drive to work… couldn’t believe what I was seeing in my rear-view mirror.

That Is Important

Good English... interesting facts.

Raise your spirits and buy a Rav4!

What Do You Want To Be?

There are many factors to consider.

I’m not sure… would you?

Whistle If You’re Thiesty

Come on... the correct spelling is right there!

Spotted in a local American burger place.

Enjoy It In Unison

Combine those items and I will enjoy it.

At the deliciuous MOS Burger restaurant, this label was on the menu holder.

We’ll Settle For Peace – Anytime

Just layback, and wait for it to happen...

This one is on my mousepad, bought from a 100 yen shop.

Target Audience

Specific enough?

In a country of 100+ million people, I guess the niches are more varied.

Changer The Changing Machine

Put a note in, get coins out - too simple?

The “Glory Model Series” (which was actually out of order) found in a games center (bowling, arcade games, etc) in Kyoto.

Lots more Japrish to come, grab the RSS or email alerts to find out when new posts are published.

Japrish – train commuter etiquette at Harajuku JR station

JTM — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:52:30 +0000

The 9th photo in the Japrish photo compilation (my own version of Engrish) is the second from what could be called a “train commuter’s etiquette” poster we found at Harajuku JR station in Tokyo.

Oh the pain... Don't look!

Just like the smokers ettiquette Japrish poster from Harajuku JR station, it’s not that the English in this poster is wrong (that’s not always the point of Japrish), it’s how they are giving advice which is the funny thing. In Australia, you would just see a big bold sign “Do not run towards the closing doors of the train”.

Take a look at the rest of the Japrish posts (see related articles below), and join us on Twitter or Facebook, or get new post email alerts by email or RSS. Not even half the poster has been revealed, so check back soon to see the rest!

Japrish – Smokers Etiquette at Harajuku JR Station

JTM — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:56:54 +0000

The 8th photo in the Japrish photo compilation (my own version of Engrish) is from what could be called a “train commuter/smoker’s etiquette” poster. This is part of a poster (more shots of it to come later) which we spotted at Harajuku JR station in Tokyo.

This is just a part of a larger poster... stay tuned to japantravelmate.com to see the rest...

It’s not that the English in this poster is bad (that’s not always the point of Japrish), just that the way they go about explaining what to do and not to do is hilarious. Cigarettes are very cheap in Japan, but they are also quite low in nicotine. Smoking is allowed in most places, such as restaurants and cafes.

Take a look at the rest of the Japrish posts below, and join us on Twitter or Facebook, or get new post email alerts by email or RSS. There will be more from this Harajuku poster very soon!

Japrish – Lost in 100 yen shop translations

JTM — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:04:11 +0000

This is the 5th post in the Japrish photo series, this time bringing you photos from a recent stationary shopping trip at the local 100 yen shop. We usually call these shops the “hyaku en” shop (hyaku = 100 and en = yen). You can really tell why you are getting a cheap product, more often than not the English becomes Japrish!

This first one is the funniest I have seen yet. Shown on the front of a scissors packet, I think they are trying too explain something which most people how to do… use scissors. However, it comes across a bit differently.

Put your finger in the hole?

This next Japrish photo is from a packet of page markers. They are like small colourful post-its.

Nothing especially funny, just an odd description.

The final photo in this Japrish post is from a lunch mat. The one I bought was brown, so it wasn’t as colourful as described. Although it does sound like it will help me to entertain my adult friends…

Which times? Please be certain!

Japrish is my own version of Engrish, focusing on English signs (or in this case, product descriptions) which are usually funnily incorrect.

Japrish – Bourbon Water

JTM — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:38:00 +0000

The fourth photo in the Japrish image compilation (my own version of Engrish) is from a convenience store in Okayama.

The perfect mix... bourbon and water?!

Bourbon Water is easily the best of the funny Japrish translations when it comes to water. I haven’t actually spotted this too many times since, but everyday I spot similar brand/product names which just don’t make sense…

When I first came to Japan, 2 years ago, a good friend gave me a tip about photography: “as well as taking normal tourist photos, choose something in particular and take photos of that”. On his last trip overseas it was license plates. I decided to spot Japrish (Japanese that has been badly translated to English, my own version of Engrish) whilst travelling in Japan.

Japrish – The Cowardly Cleaner

JTM — Sun, 08 May 2011 07:13:49 +0000

This, the third photo in the Japrish image compilation (my own version of Engrish) was spotted in a shopping mall in Fukuoka.

The cowardly dry cleaner.

The writing above PANSY says “kuriiningu” or cleaning. This place is a Dry Cleaner, they chose the unfortunate name of PANSY… or are they trying to insult me?

I have lots of fun spotting Japrish (Japanese that has been badly translated to English, my own version of Engrish) whilst travelling in Japan. As well as taking photos of normal tourist things and anything that catches my eye, I’m always on the lookout for interesting Japrish.

Japrish – Pachinko ad poorly translated from Japanese to English

JTM — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:58:39 +0000

The photo below, taken outside a Pachinko Parlor, is the second photo in the Japrish image compilation, my own version of Engrish. A series of photos taken of English words or phrases that had been displayed by the Japanese, for store signs, slogans, poster ads, t-shirts and more.

Pachinko billboard in Okayama

Pachinko poster outside the venue in Okayama.

My previous job was in advertising, so I really started to ponder if there are any laws like the Trade Practices Act which restrict what you can and cannot say. I read this sign while laughing so hard I was crying, before finding out it was for a Pachinko parlor!

It creates such an excitement land of comfortable space…

Japrish – Japanese Poorly Interpreted to English

JTM — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:14:57 +0000

The photo below, taken at Okayama JR station, is the first photo in the Japrish image compilation, my own version of Engrish. A series of photos taken of English words or phrases that had been displayed by the Japanese for store signs and name signs, poster ads, directories, t-shirts and more.

It is interesting because what happenes is not understood.

Understood.

This is a photo of a poster which was taken near Okayama JR train station.