Engrish
This isn’t the type of self-service they were meaning.
According to his shirt, this guy isn’t just “huge in Japan”, he’s huge somewhere else too.
Department store chain wants to show concern for shoppers’ mental wellbeing, but some see a message of doom for their physical health.
Look out — Japan’s old capital appears to be rising again, with an army of koi fish behind it.
A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says they’ll be stepping in to help PM Suga in future.
This is why you should never use automated translation software in a professional setting.
Eat up, kids! Also, be aware that sometimes mommies and daddies sleep around.
Why Does Engrish Happen? is back with a look at what seems to be where Sailor Moon would park her car.
The popular characters from the iconic TV series dress up in leopard print and sing in Engrish for Japan’s younger generation.
It’s often said that freedom isn’t free. In Japan, Free Tea isn’t either.
Is there a better way to start your day than with a nice plate of Italian wind saladt and “near the broil with salt?”
Sure, Pizza Hut, but do you English?
Here are five awkward, bittersweet moments that’ll make you realise you’ve finally become a seasoned expat…
Nationwide, Japan Starbucks locations appear to be telling foreign customers to learn Japanese or risk anaphylactic shock.
If you live in Asia, you’re probably used to seeing Engrish phrases everywhere. When you’ve grown up reading and writing in kanji, hiragana, etc., the “foreign-ness” of English writing and phrases adds an air of mystery and style. But it’s exactly the same in the west too—people will buy all kinds of products with kanji characters written on them whether or not they know what they mean.
Here are some examples of decked-out cars with random, nonsensical Japanese phrases on them that have Japanese netizens laughing their socks off over.
While Japan’s highest mountain itself is the primary attraction, it’s not the only thing to see in the Mt. Fuji area. There’s also the Fuji Five Lakes, which would be beautiful enough to warrant a visit even if they didn’t have the famed peak serving as a dramatic backdrop.
But while travelers are happy to see the mountain and lakes alike, one thing none of them look forward to is a puddle of piss on the men’s room floor of a local visitor’s center. That’s why one facility has signs asking visitors to mind their aim when using the urinals, but while the Japanese text is a politely worded reminder, the English version seems to be implying that the reader’s penis really isn’t so impressive.
Traveling in a country where you aren’t super confident with the lingo can be extremely daunting, and simple acts like ordering food become a bit of a nightmare. If you don’t speak the language, you won’t know what foods are on the menu or how they are prepared. Dictionaries, both paper and electronic, are definitely helpful tools when deciphering a menu and many restaurants also try to provide at least some English—one of the most used languages in the world—on their menus.
But sometimes, for all their good intentions, restaurants fail. While this may make ordering lunch a little bit trickier, it is at times like these that we are blessed with some wonderfully bad translated food names.
Today’s special dishes come compliments of restaurants in Taiwan and China that just couldn’t quite find the right words to describe their respective delicacies. Look forward to dishes including mermaids, fried Wikipedia and confused pizzas after the jump.













Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
No, that’s not French bread, it’s Japan’s crazy-big gobo!
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Sakura season arrives at McDonald’s Japan with new range of exclusive menu items
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
No, that’s not French bread, it’s Japan’s crazy-big gobo!
Yoshinoya invites you to give the gift of beef bowls this Mother’s Day
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
Sakura season arrives at McDonald’s Japan with new range of exclusive menu items
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Huge life-size Porygon plushie is a way to reconcile with the most maligned Pokémon of all
Mt. Fuji’s “field sakura” coming into bloom as Shibazakura Festival begins
Japan’s original oyakodon restaurant reopens after three years in a newly renovated building
Eight Ways You Really, Really Shouldn’t Use a Japanese Toilet
We zapped up some tasty hot sandwiches in the microwave with 3COINS’ new gadget from Japan
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]