A movement has been gathering momentum to make signage easier for non-Japanese to understand in the run-up to the opening of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is considering alterations to the Japanese “tomare” (stop) signpost so that it includes the English word “stop” and changing its triangular shape to octagonal – which is more common throughout the globe.
Twelve train lines run through Shinjuku Station where 3.5 million people alight and board trains each day.
Information displayed on concurses is written differently depending on the rail company, making it confusing for non-Japanese.
There are three different anglicized versions for the JR Shin-Minami’guchi gate: “Shin-Minami Entrance,” “Shin South Gate,” and “New South Exit.”
Up until several years ago, signposts were mostly written in romaji, (phonetic transliteration of Japanese script into the Roman alphabet) so that non-Japanese could read them.
Following on from this, in line with globalization, more and more signs mix together romaji and English.
However, as more people pointed out that although signs could be read, they couldn’t be understood, a movement to change signage into English got underway.
Signage in Shinjuku Station concourses is scheduled to be standardized in English by March this year.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is planning to increase the number of signposts in English at Tokyo Station, Shibuya Station and other locations.
On the other hand, there is no international standard for map symbols, and Japan uses its own symbols on Japanese maps.
The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) has made new map symbols, which are easy for non-Japanese to understand.
For example, in Japanese maps the Ⓗ symbol represents a hotel, but in maps for non-Japanese, the symbol has been altered to a person lying on a bed.
And the 卍 symbol for temples has been replaced with an image of a three story pagoda.
These symbols are used in maps for non-Japanese, but are not used in maps for Japanese.
東京オリンピック・パラリンピック
toukyou orinnpikku pararinnpikku
(the) Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
開催
kaisai
(the) opening (of)
に向けて、
ni mukete,
(in the run-up) to
外国人
gaikokujinn
non-Japanese
わかりやすいように
wakariyasui you ni
easier to understand
しようとする
shiyouto suru
to make
動きが
ugoki ga
(a) movement
活発になっています。
kappatsu ni natte imasu.
has been gathering momentum
警視庁は
keishichou ha
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
「止」まれの
tomare no
Tomare (stop)
道路標識に
douro hyoushiki ni
(the) signpost (so that)
英語の
eigo no
English word
「stop」を
stop wo
(the) stop
加えること
kuwaeru koto
(it) include
三角形を
sannkakkei wo
(its) triangle shape
一般的な
ippannteki na
(which) is (more) common
八角形
hachikakkei
octagonal shape
検討をしています。
kenntou wo shite imasu.
is considering (alterations)
1日に
ichinichi ni
each day
350万人が
sannbyaku gojyuumann ninn ga
three point five million people
乗り降りする
noriori suru
(where) alight (and) board trains
新宿駅には
shinnjyuku eki niha
Shinjuku Station
12路線が
jyuuni rosenn ga
twelve train lines
乗り入れています。
noriire te imasu.
run through
共有通路
kyouyuu tsuuro
concourses
案内表示は
annnai hyouji ha
information displayed
鉄道会社
tetsudou gaisha
(the) rail company
によって
ni yotte
depending on
異なり、
kotonari,
(is written) differently
外国人
gaikokujinn
non-Japanese
戸惑っています。
tomadotte imasu.
making (it) confusing
JR新南口
jeia-ru shinn minamiguchi
(the) JR Shin-Minami’guchi gate
3種類の
sannshurui no
three
英語表示が
eigo hyouji ga
anglicized versions
「Shin-Minami Entrance」
Shin-Minami Entrance
Shin-Minami Entrance
「Shin South Gate」
Shin South Gate
Shin South Gate
「New South Exit」
New South Exit
(and) New South Exit
案内表示は、
annnai hyouji ha,
signposts
外国人にも
gaikokujinn nimo
non-Japanese
読める
yomeru
could read (them)
最近
saikinn
several years ago <recently>
多く見られました。
ooku mirare mashita.
were mostly
その後、
sonogo,
following on from this
グローバル化が
guro-baruka ga
globalization
進むにつれて、
susumu ni tsurete,
in line with
混合
konngou
mix together
増えました。
fue mashita.
more and more
読めても
yometemo
could be read although
意味がわからない
imiga wakaranai
(they) couldn’t be understood
増え、
fue,
more pointed out as
英語表記に
eigo hyouki ni
English signage
動きが
ugoki ga
(a) movement
活発になりました。
kappatsu ni narimashita.
got underway
新宿駅の
shinnjyuku eki no
Shinjuku station
共通通路表記を、
kyoutsuu tuuro hyouki wo,
concourses singnage
今年の
kotoshi no
this year
統一する
touitsu suru
to be standardized
予定です。
yotei desu.
is scheduled
東京都は、
toukyouto ha,
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government
英語表示を
eigo hyouji wo
(in) English (the number of) signposts
東京駅
toukyou eki
Tokyo Station
渋谷駅
shibuya eki
Shibuya Station
広げていく
hirogete iku
to increase
意向です。
ikou desu.
is planning
一方、
ippou,
on the other hand
国際基準が
kokusai kijyunn ga
international standard
独自の記号を
dokuji no kigou wo
its own symbols
日本の地図
nihonn no chizu
Japanese maps
使っています。
tsukatte imasu.
uses
国土地理院は、
kokudochiriinn ha,
(the) Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI)
外国人
gaikokujinn
non-Japanese
しやすい
shiyasui
(which) are easy
地図記号を
chizu kigou wo
map symbols
つくりました。
tsukuri mashita.
has made
例えば、
tatoeba,
for example
日本の地図
nihonn no chizu
Japanese maps
ホテルを
hoteru wo
(a) hotel
表します
arawashi masu
represents
外国人
gaikokujinn
non-Japanese
変わります。
kawarimasu.
has been altered
寺院の
jiinn no
for temples
卍の記号は、
mannji no kigou ha,
(the) 卍 symbol
三重の
sannjyuu no
three story
なります。
narimasu.
has been replaced
これらの記号は
korera no kigou ha
these symbols
外国人
gaikokujinn
non-Japanese
使われます
tsukaware masu
are used
日本人
nihonnjinn
Japanese
使われません。
tsukaware masenn.
are not used