Do Not Laugh At Our Signs

March 2, 2005 3:34 PM

Japanese Warning Signs: Signs. In Japanese. Warning you not to do things.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy (43 comments total)

Thanks SLoG - I've always guiltily loved Japanese iconography.

You know those "Beer! Helping...." posters with the Bob Dobbs lookalikes? Is there a name for that style of Western iconography? (I have a calander in that style and I love it - but my coworkers/supervisors kinda disapprove...)
posted by PurplePorpoise at 3:45 PM on March 2, 2005

My favorite is this weirdly wonderful no smoking sign.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 3:49 PM on March 2, 2005

Do not serve sheep with any kind of warrant or subpoena -- even if someone offers you candy to do so.
posted by coelecanth at 3:49 PM on March 2, 2005

This is fucking amazing, I'm not kidding. I'm definitely a fan of Japanese iconography myself, and I just love the way they do cute cartoony characters. There is so much more minimalist flair in J-culture than we Westerners can muster.

That's why they're all related to the sun god and we aren't.
posted by Kleptophoria! at 4:00 PM on March 2, 2005

Keyword: WTF?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 4:03 PM on March 2, 2005

International symbol for non-driver: person with no arms.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 4:04 PM on March 2, 2005

Warning: Panties
posted by srboisvert at 4:06 PM on March 2, 2005

I am not even going there.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 4:10 PM on March 2, 2005

"Hon, did you remember to bury the telephone?"

Okay, I'm done.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 4:12 PM on March 2, 2005

Is this really a huge problem?
posted by ColdChef at 4:19 PM on March 2, 2005

also related is this oldish link. Still funny though. Bizzare must awesome want!
posted by Mach5 at 4:23 PM on March 2, 2005

Do not serve sheep with any kind of warrant or subpoena -- even if someone offers you candy to do so.

See, this is exactly the type of response I was looking for! I knew I could count on you guys.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:26 PM on March 2, 2005

Unless you hold the proper certification or a diploma, do not feed the goats or sheep candy without wearing gloves.
posted by nearo at 4:37 PM on March 2, 2005

Stoned, Obese Cat Searching for Munchies Crossing

Watch out for those when driving!
posted by spinifex23 at 4:44 PM on March 2, 2005

When I lived in Japan, I noticed the huge amount of warnings everywhere, and always thought it strange that the whole populace is more or less being treated like children, constantly.
posted by bashos_frog at 4:51 PM on March 2, 2005

Warning! Do not hit head on warning!
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:56 PM on March 2, 2005

Caution! Monkeys!
posted by kenko at 5:15 PM on March 2, 2005

nebulawindphone wins.
posted by mzurer at 5:18 PM on March 2, 2005

Quoth the vulture, "(something japanese)."
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:24 PM on March 2, 2005

One of my personal favorites. (self-link)
posted by deafmute at 5:26 PM on March 2, 2005

Do not serve sheep with any kind of warrant or subpoena -- even if someone offers you candy to do so.

That is good! I thought the hand holding the "subpoena" meant "don't hit the sheep with rolled up newspapers". Seriously.

Ya never know with doze crazy Japanese.

If your job requires some kind of responsibility, its quite common to point at your finished work and acknowledge it with a "yoshi".

I never knew that. I am now .000000001% wiser because of that link.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 5:36 PM on March 2, 2005

"Make note of the sailor's eye color. Should the sailor's eyes turn red, personal injury may result."
posted by Pliskie at 5:39 PM on March 2, 2005

"Past this point, all guests, particularly saucer-eyed girls with bob cuts, will be under surveillance by Satan®"
posted by Pliskie at 5:45 PM on March 2, 2005

Danger! Falling bimbos.
posted by mono blanco at 5:56 PM on March 2, 2005

Least sexy safe sex add ever.

Thanks, I'll just go finish washing the dishes, wash my hair, balance my check book, etc.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 6:09 PM on March 2, 2005

...but it's clearly not (primarily) about safe sex. It's saying "Stupid! If you had me in your purse, you wouldn't be shopping for the items on this rack."
posted by Pliskie at 6:15 PM on March 2, 2005

Grab your crotch, and say "yoshi"
posted by jimfl at 6:21 PM on March 2, 2005

Um . . . don't feed candy to a sheep? Okaaaay!
posted by ScaryShrink at 6:56 PM on March 2, 2005

more warning sign fun!

I've been wanting to post that for awhile now...
posted by gambit at 7:23 PM on March 2, 2005

#149 looks like some kind of masonry is going on. Warning! When walking home from the candy store always make sure to cement your dog's butt to the sidewalk.

And deafmute, what is that a sign for? Any idea? It says "exploding turnips" to me.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:37 PM on March 2, 2005

Warning: electric deer.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:19 PM on March 2, 2005

Secret Life of Gravy, the sign says:

"Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Meguro Ward
Forestation Production District 21"
posted by armage at 8:29 PM on March 2, 2005

...or something like that. I think it refers to a zone of agricultural production, basically.
posted by armage at 8:30 PM on March 2, 2005

Beware of Devil Clown
posted by Wen at 9:13 PM on March 2, 2005

Actually that is a well-known cartoon character from Anpanman.
posted by aerify at 2:11 AM on March 3, 2005

MetaFilter: Please don't do these things here
posted by lenny70 at 2:15 AM on March 3, 2005

When I was in Japan I remember a sign that said, and I quote "Posters saying don't litter with cigarette butts are like children scolding adults with paintbrushes". The sign was both in Japananese and we all thought it so funny that we took a photo of it. Not even my Japanese friends understood it.
posted by Jase_B at 2:35 AM on March 3, 2005

Warning: Bukkake beyond this point!

Hi Five! Down Low! You're Too Slow!
posted by NinjaPirate at 2:37 AM on March 3, 2005

Warning: whatever you do, The Terminator will return

Tip them in here - no-one will mind

And this isn't worthy of the humour.
posted by NinjaPirate at 2:59 AM on March 3, 2005

Wow, that's what that sign says Armage? I guess I could have asked my RA (my dorm was across the street from that), but I guess I always liked it being mysterious and inscrutable.
posted by deafmute at 5:47 AM on March 3, 2005

No yoga or astral projection.
posted by transient at 7:26 AM on March 3, 2005

I knew one of these guys would show up sooner or later.

Also, "Be sure to wear boots and bring a mop when administering dog enema".
posted by taz at 10:42 AM on March 4, 2005

Please spackle your dog's rectum.

Caution: Lasers will sever plant life.

"Please don't e-mail my boss!" (you know I had to)
posted by hellbient at 1:05 AM on March 5, 2005