Category: Reading
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Gachigori – ガチゴリ
Have you chomped down on Gachigori before? It’s made up of two onomatopoeic words combined together for maximum effect. Can you guess what?
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Happy Soft Piping Hot
Handwritten signs are used quite a lot in stores in Japan, especially the smaller, more personal places. This one particularly caught my eye while shopping.
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Body Warming Cream
One peculiar product I happened across recently was this little orange tube of cream claiming that it would warm you up just by spreading it on your body. I was skeptical, but having tried it out can confirm that it really does work!
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Melty Kiss Winter Version
Melty Kiss is a brand of Meiji chocolate in Japan that, like many companies here, releases seasonal versions of its most popular products. Here the latest Winter Version.
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Complaint Clinic
Here’s one fascinating sign I came across that was too unusual to pass up. I’d never heard of these sort of places before, but apparently they do exist!
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No Bladdered Tattooed Bathers!
Often times when visiting the local sento or onsen you might see signs like the one today. The appearance of such uncommon words can occasionally throw you off, but hopefully you shouldn’t need to worry…
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Let’s Be Eco-Friendly
A simple little sign today with a cool bit of slang. You can use this term where speaking or writing for added impact and style.
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Not Necessarily – 訳ではない
Is that an Obama Bobble Head figurine I see? Why yes, it is! Some plucky employee has scrawled a message below it talking about black people. Do you know your grammar well enough to decipher it?
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Shining White. For Kiss!
Quirky Engrish pops up everywhere in Japan and can be a constant source of amusement for the budding language student. Put your cringing to good use and try reading the Japanese alongside it!
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Shoes Off Before Coming In!
It’s no secret that many places in Japan require that you take off your shoes when entering – good examples being temples and family homes. I was quite surprised, however, to see a sign warning about this practice placed outside in a public park!