不法投棄禁止

不法　(ふほう) - Lawlessness, Injustice; Illegal
投棄　(とうき) - Throwing away, Dumping
禁止　(きんし) - Stop; Prohibited

見てます。　(み)てます - Look, Watch, Observe

違反　(いはん) - Violation (of law), Infringement
すれば - Hypothetical form of する
法律　(ほうりつ) - Law
により - According to, Because of
処罰　(しょばつ) - Punishment
されます - Passive voice of する

姫路市　(ひめじし) - Himeji City
警察署　(けいさつしょ) - Police Station

Translation: Stop illegal dumping. You will be punished if caught in violation of the law. We are watching. Himeji City police station.

I found this sign in, you guessed it, Himeji. I went to visit the Himeji castle and decided to take a trip on the Sanyo line down to the beach. From the station to the water I passed this large park with this sign. At first glance, it looks like a warning to watch out for big cats or other ferocious animals. But we know 禁止 is Stop or No, we see that a lot in signs for 'no smoking' 喫煙禁止 or 禁煙. So it had to be something else. After translating it, I still didn't understand the use of the eyes. A police man with large binocular eyes would of been better, more informative for the passive or illiterate viewer. Those slanted yellow menacing eyes make it feel like something is out there lurking, waiting for the best opportunity to pounce on a lonely traveller.

以上です。

ジョシュア


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