well designed?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=2&overview=1#photo

that looks like a photo warning me that mice

will carry off my drinks if i leave them around.

Posted by: sir_flexalot at February 18, 2005 12:53 PM

This is a joke, right? I went through the first dozen, and honestly couldn't figure out what most of them meant without reading the caption (except the "handicapped toilets" sign which is also quite common in North America).

I guess I might have been able to figure out the "Caution: Monkeys!" one, except I'd already been freaked out by the baseball-bat-wielding cat and the angry-looking bird, and didn't take the monkey picture literally.

I'm not saying they *are* broken -- they probably work quite well if you read Japanese -- but the idea that they communicate universal ideas is simply preposterous.

Posted by: E.T. at February 18, 2005 01:06 PM

They aren't broken if you understand Japanese. But calling these a well-designed set of pictorial signs is a little far-fetched. Mind you, most of the signs don't appear to be designed with universal recognition in mind, but rather is intended for those who can read Japanese.

Posted by: Carlos Gomez at February 18, 2005 01:12 PM

What's broken is the website navigation. It uses 'fast forward' and 'rewind' double arrows where it should, according to wide convention, use 'next' and 'previous' single arrows.

Posted by: DaveC426913 at February 18, 2005 02:13 PM

Profanity warning: The editor apparently knows onoly one word for "excrement." Otherwise, it doubles as a pretty good documentary of Japanese signage. I agree, though, they aren't very universal and many aren't intuitive.

Posted by: Jay at February 18, 2005 03:34 PM

I really like this one: http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=48#photo

Two headed pandas are scary!

Posted by: anitsirK at February 18, 2005 07:20 PM

I think I'll list my favourites for anyone who's not as bored as me, and doesn't have time to go through them all. ;)

No dogs? Actually, no bikes!

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=73#photo

Watch out for signs that are waiting to beat your car with a stick.

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=75#photo

No climbing, but flying's ok, if you're a bird?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=80#photo

Graffiti, fire, breaking trees, trampling flowers, and camping are all ok, but don't you dare play baseball.

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=86#photo

I'm really confused as to the relationship between studless tires and falling on a patch of ice.

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=96#photo

No honey for you!

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=124#photo

Anyone got a speculation on the meaning of this one?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=134#photo

No writing allowed?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=137#photo

Ducks, that way?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=170#photo

Posted by: anitsirK at February 18, 2005 07:36 PM

/Anyone got a speculation on the meaning of this one?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=134#photo/

I think it means you will be happier in the park if you have a drink.

Posted by: Daized at February 19, 2005 01:42 AM

RE: No writing allowed?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=137#photo

Perhaps it means no lefties allowed!

Posted by: hamitup at February 19, 2005 09:08 AM

/Anyone got a speculation on the meaning of this one?

http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=134#photo/

I think it means you will be happier when you sit in the shade.

Posted by: Shadow at February 19, 2005 11:21 AM

I think it means you must sit under an awning/rain cloud if you want to have a drink.

Posted by: fuzzy at February 20, 2005 01:53 PM

/ Ducks, that way?

/ http://www.juergenspecht.com/documentations/?number=1&photo=170#photo

The title actually says "Let's keep the river clean." Japanese rivers sometimes end up being dumping grounds for all manner of trash, so the sign makes sense from a Japanese perspective.

Posted by: Sherrod Segraves at February 20, 2005 03:12 PM

> Japanese rivers sometimes end up being dumping grounds for all manner of trash

So do many American rivers... maybe we need to add ducks to our "No Littering" signs.

Posted by: Jay at February 20, 2005 11:50 PM

The river and title make sense but why is the duck pointing at the bank on the other side of the river? "Don't dump it IN the river, dump it NEXT to the river (so the rain washes it in)," perhaps?

Posted by: Brian at February 23, 2005 01:07 PM

Also, like antisirK said, what is the studless tires/slipping on ice (while walking) relationship. Not many people wear tires, and I don't know of any bipedal automobiles.

Posted by: Brian at February 23, 2005 01:09 PM

The river and title make sense but why is the duck pointing at the bank on the other side of the river? "Don't dump it IN the river, dump it NEXT to the river (so the rain washes it in)," perhaps?

I think it means dump in the river so I can cross it, like the chicken crossing the road thing. Japanese ducks might not swim.

Posted by: Poindexter T Quakenfuss at March 10, 2005 12:34 PM