Recently I’ve been walking around Tokyo and noticing the talent the police have for making extremely disturbing posters. It seems they want to keep us safe while giving us freaky nightmares. These posters give us a glimpse into what is happening on the streets of Japan, at least in the minds of police and the powers that be. The topics in these posters related to issues you wouldn’t normally associate with Japan, possibly because most Japanese wouldn’t really want to dwell on them too much.

Take this poster for instance. The title in the red speech bubble at the top reads ひったくり多発 – hittakuri tatatsu – A large number of purse snatchings. I knew that there was an evil spiderman but I didn’t realize he and his friends had turned to stealing women’s handbags.

In the more boring outer suburbs of Tokyo, uninspired kids who haven’t thought of anything better to do hop on their 50cc scooters and cruise the streets for easy pickings. Targets are usually women carrying handbags, handbags that are probably worth more than their contents. It has become quite a problem and you can see signs warning you to be alert.

This poster gives a few tips on how to be safe:
防犯ネットが無いと危ない – bouhan netto ga naito abunai yo – If you don’t have anti theft net (over your bike basket) it’s dangerous

防犯ネットなら心配ないわね – bouhan netto nara shinpai nai wa ne – With an anti theft net, there’s no need to worry.

肩掛けだから安心だね – katakake dakara anshin da ne – because I’m carrying it over my should I can feel safe

At the bottom of the poster it tells us:
バッグは建物側に携行しましょう – baggu wa tatemono gawa ni keikou shimashou – You should hold your bag on the side of the buildings (not the road)

背後に用心して、振り返ってみましょう – seato ni youjin shite, furikaette mimashou – Be aware and see what is behind you.

You can find these posters outside police boxes and in train stations. I’ll be looking at some more interesting posters around Tokyo and posting the results here. Stay blogged…