Signage Around the Island

The kanji exhorts familys to get together and communicate. Apparently the family that smokes, drinks and watches tv together stays together. I see this combination in many of the family homes I visit. Everyone seems happily oblivious...it is odd. Probably more of the planet lives this way than I can cope with.

There is a verbal ending in Japanese, "[Verb]-te arimasu, signifying that someone's actions continue even unto the ever-lasting "now." What better illustration than this faded political candidate's poster from an election long ago, sturdily glued with great hopes to the side of a wooden wall along the main highway. Yet the face continues to exist in our moment du jour. A ghostly reminder of past events, slowly fading under the sun into obscurity and from memory. (Mihara, February 14, 2006).

Please be careful of the giant penguin in a construction hat chanting "safety..." The sign says "Mountain Construction Company."

The simple "Kids Crossing Street" sign reinterpreted as an endless series of seemingly handmade constructions. One imagines dear Dad sawing these out and painting his own son's face on the placard. The sign says "Careful, kids may be flying out."

Hello Dead Kitty kicks the soccer ball. Why dead? This is in front of a store that sells granite statues for family burial plots. If your little tyke did not successfully cross the street, inspite of the running kid sign, you can mark his final spot with this pink and white tribute. Perhaps HDK will accompany his spirit and they will play forever on the great Sanrio soccer field in the sky. At least tiny Taro-chan will be eternally well dressed in bowler and suit.

Japlish Corner

Sign by movie theater kiosk where one can buy cigarettes and impart a little manners lesson. Part of the bizarre "Are You A Good Smoker?" campaign. To what, smoke only "good" cancer sticks? Be polite while polluting the air and endangering yourself and everyone around you? And just how big is your cigarette, anyway? But, I digress...at least Japan is waving a polite cancer-stick in the air. Please, don't bump me with your smoke!

© 2008. Comments to Patricia Yarrow
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