Join our FREE personalized newsletter for news, trends, and insights that matter to everyone in America

Newsletter
New

98 Hilarious Examples Of Getting Lost In Translation That People Saw In Japan (new Pics)

Card image cap

Every country has its strengths and weaknesses. Japan, for example, perfectly blends old traditions with modern innovation and has become one of the strongest nations on Earth. But it does seem to struggle with English.

The Facebook group 'Engrish in Japan' is dedicated to all of the unintentionally offensive product names, confusing signs, and other translation fails people found on its territory.

However, if these slip-ups teach us anything, it's that breaking the rules of a language can make streets, stores, and restaurants much more entertaining. And not in a bad way!

More info: Facebook

#1 Found This In Sakae In Nagoya... Don't You Dare To Dump (Make A Dump Or Dump Garbage?) Or They Will Sue The Police!

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#2 Huh? ???? Where: Yokohama Iekei Ramen In Hiroshima

6a4674a1a39dd_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#3 At Supermarket In Shinagawa-City, Tokyo

6a4674cb4fd87_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#4 At The Northern Entrance To Oze, Hinoemata Village In Fukushima Pref

1-6a4636c3ca0fb__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#5 "Please, Take Good Care Of The Stairs." Taken At The Kinosaki Ropeway, Around 2 Years Ago

2-6a4636c574f3c__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#6 Yokohama, Kannai. In The Front Of A Residential Building

6a46738baee12_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#7 Saw This One While Driving Around In Osaka. Unfortunately, My Friend (Who Took The Picture) Missed The Other Side Of The Column With More Gold On It

6a46739f2be43_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#8 Nothing Like It... If You Need Some Big Wood, Go To Okayama

6a4673ac268dd_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#9 Got Myself A New Tshirt From Aeon

6a46752fa37de_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#10 Heart In The Form Of Pancakes! Taken In Gion (Yamatooji-Dori Street) In Kyoto Around 2 Years Ago

8-6a4636d3829f9__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#11 Dairy Park!

10-6a4636d8c10fa__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#12 Bar Sign In Kawaguchi, Saitama

14-6a4636e155d10__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#13 Found In Shizuoka Airport Yesterday. I Understand What They Were Trying To Get At But I’d Rather Not Have Orange Juice That’s Just Like Tap Water - Not Very Appealing

16-6a4636e52efe4__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#14 Someone Seems To Have Corrected The Spelling Of "Seculity". Toyama, 2026

6a4673d61cfba_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#15 You'res Welcome!

18-6a4636eb0dcd8__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#16 I Have No Idea What Could Possibly Be Going On In There At Night ???? In Kanazawa

6a4673e86476e_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#17 Minoh, Osaka

6a467400ed796_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#18 Chofu Station Building

6a46740c2480f_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#19 Somebody… Please, Make A Reservation! Taken Some Years Ago Somewhere Around Noda, Osaka

6a467423a654c_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#20 They Are Currently

6a4674651c73b_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#21 Don’t Take Spare Toilet???? Where: Akasaka, Tokyo

39-6a463b2b7d5fa__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#22 Was Found In Shin-Osaka Station. Only For Extreme Button Situations

40-6a463eb734651__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#23 They Meant “Pilates”. Near Asakusabashi Station In Tokyo

6a4674af83654_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#24 Rounge In Nishiazabu

6a4674c0167af_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#25 Nachi Falls Last Week

6a4674e73c89c_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#26 Souvenir Shop At Oshinohakai, Near MT Fuji. There Were A Lot Of Bangers Today, But This One Is Absolute Peak

6a4674fa32f35_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#27 This Sign Got Me Froored For A Bit Found At A Karaoke Shop In Akihabara

100-6a464583542cf__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#28 “Please Start Eating” At Toranomon Hills

6a4675216c7f3_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#29 Seen Outside A Restaurant In Kyoto The Other Day. Thank Goodness They’re All Sold Out. I Nibbled On A Few Of Them When I Was But A Wee Lad

7-6a4636d11b364__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#30 In Sakai, Osaka, Japan

9-6a4636d616647__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#31 "Never Touch This Pipe!! If You Touch, The Roof Will Fall And An Accident Will Occur." Shinjuku Golden Gai

11-6a4636dc4ec10__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#32 What I Assume Is A Massage Parlour In Sendai

6a4675486773a_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#33 Washing Machine Instructions At A Hotel I Stayed At In Utsunomiya

22-6a463b04c28d3__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#34 Somewhere In Yokohama. Took This Photo Last May 2025

6a46755c77302_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#35 The Penalty For Train Groping In Japan (Tenma)

26-6a463b0dc4ec7__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#36 This Mall Always Has The Best Shirts (Kawachi Mataubara)

27-6a463b105d393__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#37 Insert The Temperature Of Your Choice Here. (At A Chocolate Store At Chitose Airport)

6a467594c456d_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#38 Looks Good Tho. Both The Flap And The Pafe. Which One Should I Order? ???? ???? Namba Osaka

6a4675a4ac97a_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#39 That Doesn't Seem Like A Very Good Business Model But I'm Flattered, If A Bit Weirded Out

34-6a463b202304a__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#40 Memory Lane, Tokyo

6a4675bd2cdee_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#41 In Case You Need Some Really Small Tissues

6a4675ce4d8db_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#42 Sounds Like Fun

6a4675e03b6c5_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#43 I Can’t Remember Where I Took This Photo. I Think At A Mochi Or Steamed Bun Store In Atami

47-6a463ec720155__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#44 Ureshino, Saga

49-6a463ecbbc61a__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#45 Near Narimasu Station, Itabashi, Tokyo

52-6a463ed2be532__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#46 Now I Have Questions. And Somehow, I Also Want A Bucket Of It

6a4675f4d40d8_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#47 Charming Sign On Public Toilet, Outside Of Fukuyama Station. I Guess It Worked - It Made Me Smile

57-6a463eddd70e0__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#48 Yeah, All Is Ephemeral

58-6a463ee0a6f6c__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#49 One Of My Favorites I Found When I Was Living In Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture

60-6a463ee596aa6__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#50 Having "The Talk" At Hiroshima Station. The Ticket Office, I Think?

61-6a463ee78a6f3__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#51 Stop Idling Around. Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu Parking Lot

6a467670f1f10_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#52 Was On The Toilet In A Public Restroom At Fuji-Q In Yamanashi, And I Noticed The Sign Below The Button That Says “Flesh Toilet”

6a46767d30cd7_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#53 From In Front Of The Microwave In My Hamamatsu Hotel

67-6a4642754ba35__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#54 My First Contribution To The Group. I Found This On Holiday In Okinawa This Week, Outside A Bar. It Has To Be Read With A "Yoda" Voice!

6a46768e17e64_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#55 Abashiri Prison Museum Parking

6a46769d38614_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#56 Gotta Clern The House Today ???????? Daiso Clerning Aisle

6a4676aaf0415_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#57 Found This In A Park In Aichi

6a4676be4981d_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#58 Toei Bus Will Touch You Firmly

6a4676d02c509_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#59 Somewhere Near Umeda, Osaka

6a4676e064f75_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#60 Taken At A Game Center, Niigata City

6a4676ecb2a8a_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#61 Granny Shop

6a4676fee4480_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#62 Ah Yes, The Scientific Latchin Name Of The Species. Osaka Floral Culture Park

6a46770b85fd2_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#63 In A Restaurant In Hiroshima

6a46772383d21_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#64 Please Waste - At An Amusement Park In Okayama

109-6a46459675d56__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#65 A Little Shopping In Kumamoto

120-6a46484b7b9bb__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#66 For Those Embarrassing Moments When Your Skin Falls Off..(Yuzawa)

126-6a46485b084bc__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#67 Dug This One Up From A Little Over A Year Ago. The Worst Part Is This Was At A Translation Conference In Shiga

127-6a46485ceab2d__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#68 Small Hand Writing… In Jinbo-Cho, Tokyo

6a467774ad7c1_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#69 Like, Ok Drugstore Salad Bag In Osaka

31-6a463b18f0b57__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#70 MT. Fuji - Yoshida Trail 4th Station Toilets - 2025

6a467783bb9a1_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#71 Vending Machine At Ohanajaya Station

45-6a463ec273464__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#72 Is It Like The Axe Commercial, "Don't Use It If You Don't Mean It"? ????

6a4677a494a9f_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#73 They Must Have Been Busy Running Around All Morning And Had To Come To A Halt

6a4677ae55bed_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#74 Saw This In The Tunnel On The Way To Board A Plane At Kansai Airport. Apparently Can't Even Get On A Plane Unscathed

6a4677c116b5f_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#75 [meet]

6a4677d4a1dfb_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#76 Restaurant Menu In Osaka

6a4677ea98516_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#77 Shioyazaki Lighthouse, Southern Fukushima Prefecture. I Guess It Still Gets The Message Across… Sort Of ????‍♂️?

76-6a4642895b73c__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#78 Spotted In Yokohama. Hare It Is On The 1st Floor

78-6a46428e19560__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#79 Hareruya Card Store In Akihabara. I Think This Roughly Translates To “YOLO”?

81-6a46429579fd0__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#80 Driving Through Shizuoka At The Moment And Spotted Some Epic

87-6a46456587d2e__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#81 I Guess It's Ok To Park Here If You're Delightful About It

6a4678048b202_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#82 Came Across This On My Way Home From Work Yesterday - No Bumping Garbage Allowed Here???? Osaka

98-6a46457e7669f__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#83 Taxi In Kyoto. This Guy Deserves A Little Credit For Making The Effort

101-6a4645859b1be__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#84 Just Arrived Now At The Sun Palace Hotel In Tooyako In Hokkaido

104-6a46458b9f189__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#85 Itabashi Hotel Cup

105-6a46458dd7ec7__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#86 Found This On A Door Of An Establishment In Osaka

6a46781b7cdd7_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#87 The People At Shiroyama Park In Fukui's Takahama-Cho Beach Side Area Know All About The Devious Pocket Sand. So, Drop That Sand, Dirtbag!

6a4678295fe7d_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#88 I Wonder How Much It Is When They Aren't Sick? Tsukiji Outer Market

111-6a46459b2c41f__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#89

112-6a4648378161c__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#90 Nishiki Market, Kyoto, May 8, 2026. Apparently They Don’t Sell Plastic Shopping Bags

116-6a4648418023f__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#91 Saw This In An Ice Cream Shop At Akihabara Station

117-6a464843e99c0__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#92 Sounds Like One Of Those Escape Room Challenges

6a46783d8a7c7_hilarious-japanese-english

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#93 Kyoto - Higashishiokojicho, 14 April 2026. Engrish All The Way!

122-6a46485056b82__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#94 In A Small Shop In Kawazu

123-6a464853dc138__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#95 Carpe Diem? ????a Beautiful Wall Reminder To Seize The Day While Waiting In Line To Enter An Onsen Bath In Higashi Kurume This Morning!

128-6a46485ea0af6__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#96 From The Ladies' Restroom At A 7 Eleven In Enoshima

130-6a464862422e7__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#97 No, *you* Can't Make The Bed If There Are Things On It. Seen At Washington Hotel Plaza, Okayama

131-6a4648646009e__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan

#98 Received This Kind Card After Giving Blood In Kichijoji! Thnak You Too!

132-6a464866b2504__700.jpg

© Photo: EngrishInJapan