Composition | Signboard

Muryo-Annai Jyo (Kanon Iwata)

Representations of images

INTRODUCTION

Images are also very important signs which create meanings and tell us how culture and atmosphere of Kabuki-Cho is constructed. This page will decode hidden messages through visual signs on Muryo-Annai Jyo with various examples.

Heart and Mascot of panda

This is the signboard of Muryo-Annai Jyo called “Angel”. Hearts and mascot of panda give us “kawaii” impression, and “kawaii” can be translated as “cute” and “adorable”. Birlea (2019) notes that

Muryo-Annai Jyo, Angel’s signboard

there is a constant tendency towards embracing and promoting anything based on their kawaii appearance.

“Kawaii” culture or using mascots in signboards not only shows Japanese unique culture but also connects with femininity. Also, even though there are some illegal Muryo-Annai Jyo in Kabuki-Cho, they show cute appearance in order to be looked proper and to put people off their guards.

Images of people (hosts and hostesses)

Muryo-Annai Jyo is strongly connected with host and hostess clubs since they choose and recommend the best host and hostess club to customers. Hence, many Muryo-Annai Jyo have the images of hosts and hostesses near the entrance. In addition, having images of people on signboards contributes to create unique atmosphere of Kabuki-Cho but also makes people feel more secure.

Muryo-Annai Jyo, MANZOKU STATION

This is because we can judge whether legal or illegal Muryo-Annai Jyo by looking at the image of host and hostess. Most Muryo-Annai Jyo use people from their parter host and hostess clubs, so you can know how safe it is beforehand. Compared to signboards with only texts, signboards with the image of host and hostess build the distinctiveness of Kabuki-Cho and comfortableness.

Muryo-Annai Jyo, The King of Information (情報王)

Geisha

💡What is Geisha?

This website says that geisha refers to a member of a professional class of women in Japan whose traditional occupation is to entertain men, in modern times, particularly at businessmen’s parties in restaurants or teahouses.

Muryo-Annai Jyo, Geisha information

Since geisha is female highly skilled performer to entertain men, there is a common misconception that geisha are workers. This website suggests one of the reasons why people believe geisha are workers is that many prostitutes dressed in kimono advertised themselves as “geisha girls” to the occupying overseas forces stationed in Japan in the aftermath of WWII.

Therefore, the geisha on Muryo-Annai Jyo’s signboards also comes from people’s misunderstanding of geisha. Muryo-Annai Jyo called Geisha Information mainly introduces business, and they try to make customers think this store suggest business to them by using the image of geisha.

List of services

Logo of R18

When you look at this logo of R18, you immediately realize that people who are under 18 years old cannot enter Muryo-Annai Jyo. Actually, every Muryo-Annai Jyo have this logo since they strictly prevent the entrance of underage people. In semiotics, this mark can be index since we anticipate the combination of person and 18 is an index of No entry (less than 18 years old) mark. At the same time, it can be symbol since this mark should be culturally learned. We learn the connection between a symbol and what it represents by experiencing the concept it represents overtime.

Parody of LINE Icon

Some Muryo-Annai Jyo use parody to attract people’s attentions. Muryo-Annai Jyo called “NICE” is a parody of “LINE”, one of the most popular social media in Japan. As we have conversations in LINE, NICE is the place where people exchange their information. Also, the parody of LINE implies that Muryo-Annai Jyo have a large amount of information about night entertainment in Kabuki-Cho since LINE store the mass information as well.

Muryo-Annai Jyo, NICE

Conclusion

Images are important signs to create different concept of Muryo-Annai Jyo. Some use cute mascots to construct “kawaii” impression, while others use images which connect with business like Geisha. However, the common finding here is that all these visual signs represent what Muryo- Annai Jyo is. For example, parody of LINE’s icon indicates that it is the place where people have conversations and share information just like we use LINE. Therefore, images also contribute to create the uniqueness of Muryo-Annai Jyo and tell us what Muryo-Annai Jyo is.