Signs are a special chapter if you are talking about Japan. I believe that is because Kanji are tiny pictures itself and therefore there is no big difference between words and pictures. But there is also the aspect that Japanese always tend to adjective cute (=kawaii). Japan is still the origin of Hello Kitty.
Nagoya is famous for its castle. The roof is decorated with two golden shachihoko. And you are right if you asume: If the fish is shaking, don’t drive you car! This street is a major evacuation route in Nagoya.
Sad phones and mean power shovel only exist in Japan. This sign (available in different verations) you can find everywhere in Japan. Here the company NTT reminds a contruction company that there is a phone line in the ground. Like always in Japan there is also a phone number you can call, of the mean power shovel relly mad the phone sad.
This sign I found inside Nagoya castle. There are many rules in Japan. Most of them are not written down. But that Japanese also respect the written word is amazing. No one else would ask you to not step on a footnote. But, maybe, they only talk about the metal beam on that they mounted the sign.
In Japan every ban is also followed by the reason. „Don’t ride your bike here and pay attention to older people.“ In Germany it would only be „Bike are prohibited!“ In Japan a ban is always like a request to your good manners. This is a complete different approach. All the rules are there to create respect and harmony.
Yamanote line is always crowded. So you again should have good manners and behave „compact“ (right part of the banner). On the left side it is explained why you should not smoke in public places. After this you don’t mind all the other advises and requests.
And with all the remains that could be found on the streets in Luebeck, I really would welcome a German version of the following sign. But I am also confident that they would be ignored with typical German arrogance.
A little bit disturbing is the fear of trains. But those sign are also a good example, how Japan is working. Even without able or willing to read the japaneses characters, you instantly know what they are takling about. No explaination needed.
Here the final sign: Clash. This sign I found in the trainstation Hamamatsucho, Tokyo. It is one of my favorites, right behind the wobbling carp from Nagoya.
