80 Hilarious Cases Of Getting Lost In Translation In Japan

Engrish is a slang term for poorly translated or inaccurate use of the English language, and there are many reasons why this might occur.

In an attempt to chronicle such—as they say—glitches, whiffs, and downright abuses, in one particular Asian country, a Facebook group called ‘Engrish in Japan’ was created in 2011. Through the years, the community has grown to include over 175,000 members and continues to promote lighthearted discussion and cultural exchange in an especially amusing way.

So, continue scrolling to check out some of the best/worst t-shirts, signs, and other artifacts they’ve found!

More info: Facebook

#1 Or What?

#2 Still Trying To Determine If This Is A List Of Available Amenities Or The Names Of Alternative Rock Bands That Have Stayed Here

#3 On A T Shirt In Osaka, Unsure What This Is Supposed Say But I Love It

#4 Don’t Skateboard Or Whatever. You Know What We Mean, Don’t Make Me Write It All Out. All That Stuff You Do

#5 Kaitenzushi In Tottori

#6 At A Hotel Lobby In Kyoto

#7 So Let It Be

#8 Memory Lane, Tokyo

#9 Beware Of Those Waiting For The Bus

#10 In A Furniture Store In Misawa, Japan

#11 Inside A Mall Somewhere In Saitama

#12 Joined The Group Just To Post This – Everyone Needs To Know The Truth

#13 I Don’t Actually Really Know What They’re Trying To Convey Here

#14 T-Shirt Spotted In Youmetown Nagasaki

#15 Riffing On Italian Girl

#16 Crime-Fighting Toilet, In Praliva Shopping Center, Fukuoka

#17 So Demanding

#18

#19 Ahh Sinamon

#20 Stop The Floor

#21 I Was Afraid To Look Inside

#22 Remember, Owaki-San Is Not Liable For Any Disappoint

#23 One Of Many Excellent T-Shirts I Saw For Sale

#24 It Says In Japanese Do Not Take The Toilet Paper Home/Away. The English Is Very Understandable

#25 Can I Trash Your Store?

#26 That Sure Will Hurt

#27 I Was Looking For A Sign… And There It Was

#28 At The Security Checkpoint At Sakashita-Mon Gate (Entrance To The Imperial Palace)

#29 At A Delicious Bakery In Kakogawa. Very Presumptuous

#30 Kinkaku-Ji, Kyoto

#31 Found In Mojiko, Kyushu

#32 Cape Tachimachi, Hakodate

#33 Would I Hesitate?

#34 On A Flyer I Received In The Mail At My Home In Tokyo For A Children’s Demand Video Service

#35 A Toilet Challenge! Taken At The Japan Open Air Folk House Museum In Kawasaki, December 2023

#36 Feel Like You Are In A Hot Spring With Monkeys! When You Use This Bath Powder

#37 A Poem

#38 No, It’s Mine

#39 When Did You Found ? I Found It In A Store Called Found Good

#40 Too Bad. Actually I Had The Intention To Explore Kyoto After Breakfast- But I Need To Go Back To My Room

#41 At Tokachigawa Onsen

#42

#43 Himeji Is Offering Us Machines We Can Wash. I Have To Say It’s About Time! You Can’t Stop Technological Progress

#44 In Fuchu. Not Terrible, But A Bit Vague

#45 Mmmm… 1 Large Chicken Discharge Please

#46 New Kind Of Cocktails

#47 At The Gift Shop

#48 Cardi B Was Here

#49 Inside A Bungalow In Shimanto, Kochi

#50 I Have No Idea What This Restaurant In Niigata Is Trying To Say

#51 I Think They Might Hate Their Staff

#52 Found In Hakuba

#53 At A Rest Area Where Drinks Were Available

#54 Please Enjoy Your Gleen Salad

#55 Angry Hairdressers Found In Satake Street, Taito

#56 Sounds Similar. Must Be Fine

#57 Abunai Yo

#58 Don’t Ride People

#59 Mini Bowring Was A Unique Experience

#60 I Guess They’re Technically Right… When It’s Freezing, A Fleece Jacket Comes In Handy

#61 They Must Have Run Out Of Something And Can’t Decide If They’re Going To Restock It

#62 Menu From A Bnb In Izu Oshima

#63 Don’t Get Too Excited, No Spearfishing Will Be Done On This Sightseeing Boat. The Seagulls Are The Ones “Spearing” The Food Out Of Your Hand

#64 Actually This Bus Does Not Arrive At The Immigration Bureau

#65 Surprisingly Liberal Train Etiquette Policy At Shin Matsudo Station

#66 Found This Gem In Kyoto

#67 On The Electric Tea Kettle In A Mid Kakogawa Hotel Room

#68 Yikes

#69 ATM Hyogo Prefecture

#70 “Light Thing”

#71 No, Please Don’t. Seen In Taito-Ku, Tokyo

#72 Train Station In Naha, Okinawa Japan

#73 At Mt Aso, Kusasenri

#74 I Want To Eat Past

#75 The Ole Trampline

#76 It Closes All Day Every Day

#77 He Played As A Tank Today

#78 Two For The Price Of One

#79 When We Lived In Japan, I Saw This Bag In A Store

#80 Cake Box In Kyushu