Japanese symbols that speak without words

51 pointsposted 3 hours ago
by msephton
(arun.is)

9 Comments

netsharc

an hour ago

The logo expressing "Limited Express" is very unspecific, imagine if buses with the Mercedes star cost extra and didn't stop at every stop.

Interesting that a lot of US road signs have words on them: https://ygraph.com/graphs/roadsigns-20120316T030941-ekrruua.... , or are obvious, whereas in Europe drivers need to learn what they mean: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh...

For example the yield triangle, no stopping and no parking are probably unfamiliar to US drivers.

Meanwhile all Alfa Romeo Quadrofoglio drivers might be mistaken for drivers with missing limbs in Japan.

svachalek

3 minutes ago

The yield triangle is super common here (California and everywhere else I've been in the US). It's even on your image.

No parking is usually a red curb or striped out area, which is different but also nonverbal. That "no stopping" sign is unfamiliar to me, I guess we write it out but it's a pretty rare thing here to not allow stopping.

Most of the rest is familiar and/or obvious except the ones that have German words on them.

lexicality

an hour ago

It was very surprising for me when I visited the US to see just how much space was wasted writing everything out on every sign and sometimes in giant words on the road.

It did also make me a bit worried about the expected level of driver education...

robocat

2 hours ago

The common theme for the discussed symbols is consideration for others.

In New Zealand we require a yellow [L] sign on cars with learner drivers (with learners drivers licenses). However I get the impression that other drivers are less considerate around a car displaying the [L] sign.

I suspect New Zealanders are generally far less considerate than Japanese. Politeness avoids a trillion sharp edges.

We also seem to be copying some of the US predilection of arsehole Ute (pickup) drivers.

jjtheblunt

40 minutes ago

> Politeness avoids a trillion sharp edges.

i've never seen that before, and what a great phrase!

Also, i'm in the US and don't know why this exists, but recently see this all over.

   https://www.liftedtrucks.com

robocat

5 minutes ago

Can't visit that site from NZ. I've mostly seen kits for lifting 4WDs in NZ.

And I think the arsehole ute/pickup drivers are more of a tradie demographic.

Lifted 4WDs here seen to most commonly be private older vehicles owned by a wider cross-section of society (lifted for image/status or offroad access), and perhaps are rarely work vehicles. Think lifted 1996 rough Land Cruiser, not a showoff expensive new Ford.

nephihaha

an hour ago

Very interesting but the comparisons are somewhat US-centric. For example, there is an equivalent to the heart and cross in some western countries which is the sunflower lanyard.

IndySun

an hour ago

If "drivers of private vehicles in Japan", must understand these "four symbols" then these are not "Japanese symbols that speak without words".

1317

41 minutes ago

P Plates, Japan