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Warning: Watch out for Bears & Perverts

A sign in Akita warning people about the possibility of encountering bears or perverts (chikan):

“Beware of bears & chikan”　-A message from the kamishinjou Elementary School PTA

[From Onkelmann : hat tip to Steve O.]

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8 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - September 28, 2009 at 7:39 am

http://dimesfornickels.wordpress.com/ William George

Good advice no matter what you’re up to
steve

Along the lines of Niels’s comment, when I first say the sign, I misread it as くまの痴漢に注意.
Ido

Maybe they meant “Watch out for Bear with molesters” (as と also means with).
Ajapa

I think it is not “Joushinjou” but “Kami-Shinjou”.

And for people who just think “痴漢” (chikan) as a man who does groping in crowded places, I say, it actually has much broader meaning. They may be an exhibitionist who suddenly appears or becomes naked in front of girls on the street, although they are often called as “変質者” (pervert or deviant) or “露出狂” (exhibitionist) specifically.

The literal meaning of the word “痴漢”, which is a composition of two Chinese characters, is, rather, “foolish man” or a man who lacks intelligence. Thus Chinese may understand this word very differently than Japanese.

And finally, the word “変態” usually means “pervert” nowadays in Japan, but it is also used as a biological term for denoting transformation or metamorphosis.

I wish this post will not be eaten by spam eater.
steve

Yes, you are right, it is indeed Kami-shinjou.