Bank

みずほ銀行
みずほぎんこう
Mizuho Bank

Mizuho is just the name of the bank.

Downloads - Dec 08

Here is the second sign pack, which runs from the 4th of August up until the 5th of December 2008. There are 80 signs included. As before there are various formats available. The pictures' folder is archived in 7z format because this type supports the preservation of the Japanese file names on each pic, whereas zip doesn't. You can get the free and open source 7Zip program here.

File details:

Excel spreadsheet, 4 fields; number, kanji, kana, English

Excel 97-03 spreadsheet, 4 fields; number, kanji, kana, English

ODS spreadsheet, 4 fields; number, kanji, kana, English

Tabbed text document, 3 fields; kanji, kana, English

Pictures only, no text, 7z format

The files are available here:

It's a (Japanese) Sign Dec 08

The Aug 08 sign pack is available here.

Dentist's

小林歯科
こばやししか
Dr. Kobayashi, dentist.

Kobayashi is just someone's surname.

Tunnel

横断地下道
おうだんちかどう
Underground passage (for crossing the road)

Garage Sign

駐車、早朝・夜間
ちゅうしゃ、そうちょう・やかん
Parking, early morning and late at night.

Illegal double parking is everywhere in Japan. People are always dropping things off, picking things up, trying to stay one step ahead of the traffic cops.

Park Ahead

注意、この先公園あり、麻布警察署、港区役所
ちゅうい、このさきこうえんあり、あざぶけいさつしょ、みなとくやくしょ
Caution, ahead there is a park, Azabu Police Station, Minato Ward Office.

I don't understand the need for this sign. It's in the back streets of Roppongi. It seems like a traffic sign, so perhaps it's to warn people that there may be kids running about. The thing is, the street it's on is really a narrow, slow moving type of street, I can't imagine anyone hooning up and down it dangerously.

Stop Button on the Bus

とまります、　お降りの方はこのボタンを押してください
とまります、　おおりのかたはこのボタンをおしてください
Stop, people who want to get off, press the button.

Real Estate Office

山中不動産
やまなかふどうさん
Yamanaka Real Estate

山中 is just a surname. A real estate agent is a 不動産屋.

Bus Station Sign

渋谷駅まで１５分
しぶやえきまで１５ふん
To Shibuya station, 15 minutes.

Library

図書館
としょかん
Library

Swing Set

注意、天気の良い日は熱くなっております。
ちゅうい、てんきのよいひはあつくなっております。
Warning, on days with good weather, this will become hot.

Some signs are useful and some are just funny. This sign was on a large, arty swing set in the park behind Tokyo Midtown. You would think that if you were designing play equipment, you would make sure said equipment didn't become blisteringly hot on sunny days, you know, when kids are likely to play on them.

Post Box

郵便
ゆうびん
Post / mail

This double crossed 'T' symbol is the postal symbol. 'T' for The Postal Service, I suppose.

Edit: Tokyo5 has kindly explained in the comments that "it's not a 'T'. It's 「〒」...it's from the katakana character 「テ」('te') for 「テガミ」 (tegami...which means 'postal letter')." Thanks, Tokyo5.