Failure to understand Japanese is no excuse

Yeah! It’s so true! I did that once and the swelling took weeks to settle down.

You might wake the sleeping grass

I’m telling you, there’s no way you could do that if it were purple.

If you can understand it’s a notice, you pass!

…And in other news, 32 more foolish Westerners were arrested in downtown Tokyo for failing to heed clearly written public notices, bringing the total number charged this year to 7296. Authorities are increasingly frustrated by the brazen and ongoing disregard for rules, which are posted at strategic locations around the city and make use of size 36 Yokohama font. Possible countermeasures under discussion include electricity and killer bees. Now to the weather…

Oh, yeah, I understand! Green means go, it is international.

Notice: confusing tourists is fun!

I think the nijojo office is a bit xenophobic is you ask me, trying to put foreigners’ lives in danger like that.

Arigato.

I.. said… ARIGATO.

@ coffeebot: Iye. Do itashimashte.

Hai!!

Sanyonara!

いえ, けっこうです。

Well, I’m glad that’s been cleared up…

From the folks who brought you “You Are Here” markers.

Well that was certainly Lost in Translation.

Wakarimasen!

我也会说一点儿汉语，谢谢。　我没懂日语，　谢谢。　你懂不懂？　

Welcome to My Life In Japan!

分野の不発の爆弾か。

look at the bright side, at least they didn’t say “Thank You” in Japanese

This is really smart way of putting notices on signs. Simply: the back side notice explains everything!

It’s weird though – the other side of green area (one can see it from this side since it’s partly transparent) would read something like ‘moc.hsirgnE’ (flipped)…

This could be a heartwarming advice and/or a snooty warning from Kyoto people for foreigners to learn Japanese before they even think about coming to Japan (^_−)−☆

Before I went to my Japan… my friends taught me one phrase…

“Okee Opie dess neh” I never got a chance to use it.

Now, don’t make me say this again!!!

はじめまして。

No really, the message soaks in after you stare at it for a few hours.

A rope is a universal signal for stay the hell out!

‘You’re welcome, but I don’t think I understand my understanding…’

Gracias, adios!

“Oh, no problem. It’s very clear”

I don’t get it? what did I understand?

The sign just wants you to notice it.

Not all’s lost though. Anyone who can read Chinese will figure out bt the first 2 words its mildly dangerous, which makes you want to cross that line even more, doesn’t it?

Vice versa; the locals can’t understand the English part also, no? When they read the sign it just tells them to stay out without any apology, which from what I know goes contrary to their culture.

Those reading in Japanese shall not be thanked for their understanding.

Dear foreigners and travelers, No, we will not rewrite every sign so you don’t have to learn our language! Just learn our language! Sincerely, Japan