Wanted!


I saw this poster by the koban (police box) on the Omote Sando in central Tokyo. I love it because it combines the Japanese love of gadgets with their sense of civic duty. I wonder if London's Metropolitan Police would put up such posters, and if they did, how long it would take for someone to rip them down or deface them. For those of you whose Japanese is a bit rusty, here's a quick translation.

(Title in yellow) If a face rings a bell, check it out on your mobile!

(Text in red) Did you know that you can check the name, photo, and physical characteristics of suspects sought by the police using your mobile phone?

(Punchline in light blue) So that's who he is! I'll ring the police! (note: in Japan the number to call is 110; in the UK it is 999).