Tokyo is visually complicated.

There is a certain familiar visual hierarchy that does not exist in Japanese.

Published Oct 27, 2025

Author Steve Berry

Tokyo is visually complicated.

I had the awesome privilege of visiting Japan with my wife last month. We were finishing our trip and needed to take the subway to Narita airport to venture home. Let me present you with the most complicated sign I’ve encountered:

Image

Wut?

There is a certain familiar visual hierarchy that does not exist in Japanese.