Haha, I don't think it's really for publicity, but just more than English words create a kind of "atmosphere" on the sign. I really do think often it's just a mistake, but in this case it might just be something they laughed at. It's hard to say. -E
Kyde & Eric
2016-02-07 08:41:05 +0000 UTC
After living in Japan as long as you both have, do you ever get the feeling or impression that these businesses use or create the strange Japanglish intentionally or for publicity?
Michelle Mundling
2016-02-05 22:21:14 +0000 UTC
This is a "soap." From what we know you go in, get a "massage", get washed and then....? Hahaha. The sign is confusing and I can read it. It just uses words that people who are in "that" scene know and everyone else can sorta tell it's not the place for them. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapland" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soapland</a>
Kyde & Eric
2016-01-12 08:17:44 +0000 UTC
For someone who has never been to Japan, and having rudimentary knowledge of Japanese, this is kind of puzzling. This is obviously signage for a red light district establishment, but "body wash" "ri fu re" doesn't make much sense to me. "ri fu re" is short form for "lift leg"?