Engrish collection

"Engrish" is a term that jokingly refers to the seemingly limitless ability of Japanese to mangle English into meaningless yet amusing phrases. The term comes from the propensity of Japanese to in particular confuse the "L" (ell) and "R" (arr) sounds in English, since the Japanese language has no such distinction. (A neurologist friend of mine says that research has shown it's biologically impossible for the brain to learn new such distinctions after age 30 or so.)

As someone reasonably well versed in Japanese culture, I recognize that the majority of such "Engrish" is not intended to be read by English speakers, but rather intended to "look cool" to native Japanese (which, my friends assure me, it does). Nonetheless, as a native English speaker I can't help but chuckle every time I come across such, and I've lined up some of my discoveries here for your enjoyment. Many more can be found at engrish.com.

For fairness, there's also a Japanese site that makes fun of mangled Japanese.


Exactly what is being performed at this shopping mall, I leave to your imagination. (Seen at Tokyu Square Hachioji, March 2005.)


I'm not sure whether I'd want to trust my furniture to this moving company... (Seen in Tokyo, January 2005.)


"Is it possible that it uses in the Japanese foreign countries?" Not likely... (Seen below a digital camera in a store in Akihabara in July 2003. Click picture for close-up.)


A winner says, "Winners don't use Engrish". (Seen in the Canal City shopping center in Fukuoka.)


Whatever this advertisement is saying, it seems to be pretty emphatic about it. (Seen on trains in the Tokyo area. The Japanese is an advertisement for "healthy gumdrops".)


When compared with the Japanese (which explains in formal, polite terms that there is an escalator ahead), the casualness of this English set me off laughing for a full minute. (Seen at the Kyoto station Shinkansen platform.)


Gents, this way, please... (Seen on a Shinkansen restroom door.)

And other Japanese vagaries:


This probably brings home the prize for "advertisement you'd be least likely to see in the USA". (Seen at Kayaba-cho station on the Tokyo subway in August 2002. It has since been pointed out to me that this character is based on a similar statue in Belgium.)

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