Monday 15 September 2008

On a Platform


ライナー券売機、ホームライナー千葉(平日のみ運転)
ライナーけんばいきホームライナーちば(へいじつのみうんてん)
Liner ticket machine, Chiba home liner (only running on weekdays)

Thursday 11 September 2008

In a Taxi 4


緊急時のカバー取外し方向(ドアをお開け下さい。)
きんきゅうじのカバーとりはずしほうこう(ドアをおあけください。)
In an emergency, remove the cover in this direction (and open the door.)

I would rip that thing off so fast in an emergency. On the cover of a taxi door handle. Maybe it's to stop kids accidentally launching themselves from speeding cabs.

In a Taxi 3


SuicaとPasmoとIcocaご利用いただけます
SuicaとPasmoとIcocaごりよういただけます
Suica, Pasmo and Icoca can be used.

All these are types of Radio Frequency electronic tickets. Suica also means watermelon, 西瓜 (すいか).

Wednesday 10 September 2008

In a Taxi 2


深夜早朝2割増、22時から5時まで
しんやそうちょう2わりまし、22じから5じまで
Late at night and early in the morning there is a 20% surcharge, from 10pm to 5am.

I would call it a 'surcharge' but you might say 'premium'. 割 (わり) is also a signifier for a 'unit of ten percent', so I think the surcharge would be 20%. It wouldn't make sense for it to only be 2%.

On the Bus to Shibuya


止まるまで席を立たないでください
とまるまでせきをたたないでください
Until the bus stops, don't stand up from your seat.

Tuesday 9 September 2008

In a Taxi


カードをふれてください
カードをふれてください
Please touch your card here.

I've finally managed to be in a taxi in the daytime and sober. You can pay by Suica or Pasmo RFID cards in some taxis. Mostly you use these electronic tickets on the subway, but they are also being used lately to purchase things from vending machines or at konbinis.

Shibuya


まんが喫茶
まんがきっさ
Manga cafe

This large sign advertises one of the amazing manga cafes. You can read manga, watch anime, eat, drink or sleep all night at these places. I've read many an article about freeters sleeping in these places as a cheap alternative to capsule hotels. Don't know first hand whether it's true or not but it sounds uncomfortable.

Sunday 7 September 2008

Consideration


おもいやりぞーん
おもいやりぞーん
Consideration zone

Taken near the priority seats on the subway. I suppose old people don't want to hear teenage conversations. Almost everyone on the subway only uses their phones to text, never to speak on anyway.

Number 9


9号車
9ごうしゃ
Train carriage number 9

Three Signs


おねがい 使用済みのトレー・容器は各お店にお戻しください。
おねがい しようすみのトレー・ようきはかくおみせにおもどしください。
Please return trays and dishes (containers?) that you are done using to their respective shops.


席を離れる際は、貴重品等は、手にお持ち下さい。
せきをはなれるさいは、きちょうひんは、てにおもちください。
If you leave your seat (table), please take your valuables with you.


髪の毛を切らないで!! ほかのお客様のご迷惑になります。
かみのけをきらないで!! ほかのおきゃくさまのごめいわくになります
Don't cut your hair!! It will be a bother to the other customers. (This is a rather odd sign I saw in a convenience store bathroom.)

Thanks go to Johnzep for kindly acquiring and typing up these signs.

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Azabu Juban Shopping Street Festival

The Azabu Juban Shopping Street Festival is just an excuse to eat and drink a lot, it doesn't even try to pretend that the festival is attached to some temple or religious holiday.



お好み焼(き)
おこのみやき
Japanese savoury pancake



こおり
Ice


やきそば
やきそば
Japanese fried noodles


ラーメン
ラーメン
Chinese noodles in soup


特製
とくせい
Specially made


いかやき
いかやき
Squid balls

The last one is a dish I hadn't seen before, I suppose it's like たこ焼き、(たこやき)、 octopus balls. They are a deep fried batter and octopus mixture. Kind of a Japanese comfort food, but it's not really very appetising, in my opinion.

All of these dishes are usually to be found at festivals. The ice is actually shaved ice with flavoured syrup, great in Summer. The signs were not very kanjified, I tried to pick the most kanjified examples but it wasn't easy. I forced myself to trudge around drinking beer and eating greasy food until I found some good ones.

Monday 1 September 2008

In Roppongi Station 4


あぶないですからかけ込み乗車は、やめましょう。
あぶないですからかけこみじょうしゃは、やめましょう。
Let's not board the train at the last minute, because it's dangerous.

No one but no one heeds this advice.