Why Does Engrish Happen?
Why Does Engrish Happen? is back with a look at what seems to be where Sailor Moon would park her car.
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?
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.
Over the past few weeks, the Japanese organization SEALDs, which stands for Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy, has been staging large-scale protests in opposition of those politicians who’ve proposed expanding the role of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The gatherings have become regular features on news programs, with footage showing large groups of impassioned youths chanting for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to step down.
So after such a show of conviction, it must have been surprising for followers of SEALDs’ English Twitter account to see a tweet that suddenly announced the group is calling it quits.
It’s time once again for an episode of Why Does Engrish Happen in Japan? If you missed the first installment (which we really should have given a clever name like Why Does Engrish Happen in Japan? ~Unexpected Opening to the Truth~) you can check it out here.
Today, we’re taking a look at a hotel in Japan that seems to be clamping down on solo peeing, with a sign posted in its lobby that requests visitors “Please refrain from using the bathroom alone.”
Over the years, Japan has earned a reputation for its awkward command of English, with results ranging from the perplexing to downright hilarious. The country’s translation screw-ups are so common that they’ve even earned their own collective name, “Engrish.”
But for all the sites that poke fun at Engrish, it’s almost impossible to find one that talks about why it happens. So today we’re offering a bit of explanation along with the laughs, as we look at a sign in Japan that informs English-reading passersby that “Today is under construction.”
MOST POPULAR
Today
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Starbucks Japan releases two new seasonal drinks that blur the line between summer and autumn
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Japanese workers reveal their top five mysterious rules they wish would disappear【Survey】
Japanese convenience store sunglasses just became our newest Convenience Wear obsession
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Tokyo giving out free furoshiki from Pikachu’s designer to help tourists carry their garbage home
Dog-friendly Wanwan Liner bus to begin operations between Tokyo and Osaka this fall
A practical guide to freezing your boss’ hat in a block of ice [Photos]
Kyoto shop turns traditional Japanese kimono into teddy bears, with special meaning hidden in their patterns
Weekly
- 12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Studio Ghibli adds new Jiji’s baby plush toy to its anime merchandise range in Japan
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums- Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
The Japanese city where ordering grilled chicken doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually get chicken- Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Beautiful off-the-beaten-path spot near samurai castle in rural Japan looks like a Monet painting
Monthly
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards- 12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]- Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Tokyo giving out free furoshiki from Pikachu’s designer to help tourists carry their garbage home
Dog-friendly Wanwan Liner bus to begin operations between Tokyo and Osaka this fall
A practical guide to freezing your boss’ hat in a block of ice [Photos]
Kyoto shop turns traditional Japanese kimono into teddy bears, with special meaning hidden in their patterns
Totoro shaved ice wows Studio Ghibli fans in Tokyo for a very limited time
Heavyweight ramen-style cheese fried chicken bowl appears in Tokyo, but is it genius or madness?
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
These Japanese contact lenses let you put anime characters on your eyes [Photos]
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Hello Kitty x Godzilla Happy Meals are coming to McDonald’s, but not in Japan [Video]
Time-lapse footage shows just how fast rebuilding in Kumamoto can go
Visiting Japan’s muscular mascot character dog at his free museum near Kansai International Airport
Shangrila, a maid cafe staffed exclusively by cute “plump” girls, opens in Akihabara【Pics】
-
