Ads and Signs


Signs are an integral part of any urban scene, from small handbills to building-spanning posters, any reasonably flat surface is likely to bear some message, if only a company or building name. The images on this page are ones from Japan which I’ve found online that were creative-commons licensed or public domain. Click on the image for a link to the original if one exists.

Many other signs are available online, but all too often the photographer felt the need to copyright them. It’s still reasonable to use them to decorate a model railroad (that’s pretty obviously “fair use” under most versions of the law), but I won’t link any of those here.

Subway and Train Station Advertisements



stop-violence
“Stop Violence” subway sign
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: Leonard Chien

rock-you
Music player ad
Location: Akihabara, Tōkyō
Photographer: soloakewlstick

heart-station
Album ad (2008)
Location: Harajuku, Tōkyō
Photographer: jpellgen

kirin-beer-strong7
Kirin Beer ad
Location: Ashiya
Photographer: kimubert

amino-supli
Beverage ad
Location: Kamata Station, Tōkyō
Photographer: toyohara

troy-banner
Troy ad (2004)
Location: Shibuya, Tōkyō
Photographer: kara brugman

jr-wants-you
JR Employment ad
Location: Shinagawa, Tōkyō
Photographer: RageZ

suica-diaz-penguin
Suica/Softbank ad, with celebrity
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: Straws pulled at random

my-first-aomori
My First Aomori (train ad)
Location: Hirosaki, Aomori
Photographer: jpellgen

vader-lastsamurai-docomo
Docomo ad
Location: Hirosaki, Aomori
Photographer: jpellgen

navitime
Navitime ad
Location: “Japan”
Photographer: JackBunny

softbank-pantone
Softbank ad
Location: Shibuya, Tōkyō
Photographer: jpellgen

kids-semiconductors
Semiconductor ad
Location: Shijo, Kyoto
Photographer: Mshades

suntory-dakara
Suntory liver-cleaning beverage ad
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: Nemo’s great uncle

angry-news-muppet
TV ad
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: bopo

nescafe-celebrity
Nescafe ad with celebrity
Location: Kobe, Japan
Photographer: Mshades

harajuku-hair
Hair ad
Location: Harajuku, Tōkyō
Photographer: Allergic to Work

dear-j
Music ad
Location: Shibuya, Tōkyō
Photographer: Yohei Yamashita

docomo-style
Docomo Style (phone ad)
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: williacw

no-drugs
“No drugs” poster
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: schnuth

ripped-jeans
unclear what this is about
Location: Tōkyō
Photographer: omgpvd