Picto-san (ピクトさん)

Japan has a quaint obsession with personifying nondescript objects. By adding a suffix to the end of a word, you can create a character out of nothing. You probably know examples, the OS-tans, kitty-chan comes to mind. Alright, Hello Kitty is technically a character to begin with. But what about other characterless objects?

Introducing Picto-san (ピクトさん), the official mascot for pictograms everywhere. A pictogram (or pictograph) is a visual representation of an object, scene or action. You usually find them on road signs, fire exit signs, on the front of toilet doors, etc. This little character is formed out of the katakana for the word ‘Pictogram’, ピクトグラム –> ピクト. Picto-san is quite popular in Japan and on the web, with people taking photos around the world to find strange or humorous photos of picto-san. Some are hilarious mistakes, some are modified or ’shopped. Just like with Engrish, some meaning gets lost in the context, which we foreigners find rib-ticklingly funny.

Here are some I’ve collected. If you find any good ones, feel free to comment and add a link, and I’ll update the post.

 
The Lynx effect advert for AXE

 
Japanese metro sign (I think it’s fake, but hey)

 
The ever popular ‘THIS IS SPARTAAA!!’ mod for wet floor signs

 
The way to a man’s heart…


 
How not to ride a bike