Japan is a land that is totally over manned when it comes to people helping you with basic tasks, like navigating your way around road works in the street, or cars entering a drive way.
The 5 guys here, all armed with “light sabers” is not an uncommon site.
Side note, is it just me or does It seems like a natural progression in Japan, after years of a salaryman existence to turn your hand to being a taxi driver then pedestrian control man?
But now the mothering is extended to advertising in the train system. I agree there’s merit in warning people of paying attention when there’s trains and tracks involved.
But telling me how to avoid 2nd hand cigarette smoke, is that really necessary?
For more information on how to complete the most basic tasks you can check out www.jti.co.jp
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I want to think that campaign isn’t addressed at 2nd hand smokers, but at smokers. They have to know how annoying cigarette smoke is, and what people have to do to avoid it.
Interesting way to look at it …. never thought of it that way … being an ex smoker i was always conscience of what a filthy habit it was / is.
The “inside” joke about the ‘people helping you with basic tasks’ is that it keeps a whole bunch of Japanese gainfully employed no matter how seemingly useless or redundant thus skewing the unemployment numbers to look not as bad.
Oh, and from some of the people I’ve encountered, those signs are needed because to some natives, it is not obvious. In places like Tokyo, peoples sense of personal space is reduced and the natives seem to have this instinctiveness built into them to become oblivious about most everything around them (probably just a natural coping mechanism of being born into this crammed way of life).
Because of that, many will just do their own thing and not give a damn about anything else. The ironic thing is these signs will also be ignored. You see it all the time with someone smoking right in front of a sign that says no smoking. This is what makes people watching in major cities in Japan good fun.
Totally agree with the employment issue …. a place with this many people needs to invent positions which is great for those that want to fill them …. considering the pension system here means people need to take care of their own retirement more than say Australia.
And yeh, it’s amazing how often people disregard signs in public, no standing, no smoking etc ..
I agree that these jobs are a form of unemployment benefits system. Much like ditch digging work was during the 1930’s (before being replaced by the rewarding career of soldier).
There are many times when I see someone smoking while standing next to a No Smoking sign that I really wished I had a Fire Extinguisher handy….
I see you have a new header. Nice one Neil. I know people still do this, but isn’t smoking prohibited in public places?
Maybe people walking behind have the “syoganai” attitude and never thought of overtaking..!
Felt like a change Ken …. and with J-Babe of the week every Friday i think there’s enough female content … well truth be known that’s a lie but i don’t want to limit my readers to JUST men.
Did you get all P.C. while I wasn’t looking???
No worries beef curry….I know the real deal
Well, Men, Lesbians and BiSexual women I guess.
Hey, I’m a Lesbian and proud of it.
＞I see you have a new header.
New byline, too.
And Japan is where stating the damn obvious came to stay for a weekend and never left.
Samui desu ne!
Correct and correct. I have used the snow picture before, last winter actually … just thought i was due for a change.
Saaaamui neeeee!
Here’s a link if your interested in those smokings signs. They were created by Japan Tobacco apparetly:
http://www.conbinibento.com/photos/index.php?gallery=./Smoking%20Manners
You have to marvel, though, at how the machine just keeps grinding along here. Some say that the whole thing is starting to come apart little by little, but I guess I can’t tell.
But yeah, have to echo JT’s comment.
I would like to see a sign combining both warnings. Texting while smoking can be extremely hazardous. If you are not focussed you can end up taking a deep drag on the iphone while burning your thumb as you try to punch out a U R A Q T C U @ 8.
Old school texting grimmo, love it.
Last time I went to a department store in the US, I couldn’t find a freaking register that was open!! I will take the over staffing any day of the week.
Oh yeh, it has its benefits i 100% agree!
What always amuses me is how you get five humans with light-sabers during the day who are replaced by five mannequins with light-sabers at night…