Bao Lianqun's Multilingual Tokyo

The presence of multilingual information in tokyo

Lianqun BAO

30th September 2011

The map of Japan

Tokyo

The map of Japan

This is Hakone in Japan

This is Mt. Fuji

1.Multilingual Survey

• Reseach time: May of 2010

• For Supermarket and Railway Stations

1) Takashimaya Supermarket and Keio Shinjyuku Supermarket of Tokyo

2) Survey of Keio Line of Railway Station including “Inokashira Line” for multilingual in formation.

The name of Keio Line train station

This is the street from my home to Keio Line train station.

Case 1: Takashimaya 高島屋”

“Takashimaya” have 24 Shops in Japan

(Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama etc.) They have four overseas shops

Survey contents:

1) Multilingual pamphlets in stores:

English, French, Chinese and Korean

2) Multilingual announcements in stores

Different shops use different languages to

make announcements

This is “Takashimaya” night scene

Four Languages: English, Korean, Chinese and French

Three languages: English, Korean and Chinese

Multilingual signs at Railway Station

Case 2: Multilingual signage at Keio Station Railway

Line of Railway Station including “Inokashira line”

Publicity for travelers at Shinjuku station: English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese

Publicity for travelers inside a train: Chinese and Taiwanese

Publicity for travelers inside a train: English and Korean

The name of a station on the Inokashira Line

Inokashira Line

Showing name of station for travelers inside a train: Chinese, English, Korean and Japanese

Floor information in Chinese in electronics shop elevator

Number of people visiting Japan in 2008-2009

2008 increase and decrease rate 2009 increase and decrease rate

Asians 6,153,827 0.4 4,814.001 -21.8

Koreans 2,382,397 -8.4 1,586,772 -33.4

Taiwanese 1,390,228 0.4 1,024,292 -26.3

Chinese 1,000,416 6.2 1,006,085 0.6

Hong Kong 550,190 27.3 499,568 -18.3

3. Use of multilingual information for economic development

By Television News (June 21, 2010):

1) A lot of Chinese travel to Japan and they are more in number than from other countries.

In the Yamanashi prefecture, a hotels catering specially to Chinese visitors has appeared.

2) The Supermarkets have multilingual services. For example, anouncements of customs free sales and service guidance.

Thank you!