Prowling the city of Tokyo are hoards of taxis, chasing down lonely passengers on their way, to and fro. Characteristically, all are equipped with automatically opening doors and a driver’s white gloves. However, little distinguishes these roaring vehicles, classically Japanese, outside the small glowing beacon perched on the center of their tops - each company from every region set themselves apart with their own special logo and shape. How practical, since, from far, a passenger can see what type of ride they are in for that night! Today, PingMag spots some of the great variety of roaming lights for you.
Written by Ryoko
Translated by Kevin Mcgue
First of all, when did taxi light begin to be used? We contacted Takeuchi Industries, a well known taxi manufacturer based in Tokyo. According to them, taxi lights were first used only in emergency situations. When taxis became widespread, they were considered luxurious extravagances, enjoyed by wealthy patrons. Many robberies and other crimes targeted taxi drivers and their passengers. Then, a crime prevention law, introduced in 1954, allowed taxis to install lights that could be flashed during a hold up, to send out a distress signal. In the past, the light had an important role in keeping the driver and passengers safe. Today, lights include the taxi company’s name, fares, and sometimes even serve as advertising space.
Shibuya, Tokyo
Now let’s take a look at some Tokyo taxis. Nihon Kotsu taxis have lights bearing a cherry blossom with a bold “N” in the middle as logo. And interestingly, Checker Taxis, known as “the face of New York” between 1920 and 1999, influenced the design of Sanwa Kotsu’s taxi lights, which are oblong with checker designs on the ends. Stylish!
Nihon Kotsu’s logo with a cherry blossom motif.
This “checker” design of Sanwa Kotsu’s light found inspiration in “the Big Apple.” Yes, exactly.
No, that’s not meant to be a pyramid! Tokyo Musen’s unique rooftop light was designed with the Tokyo Tower in mind - one of the city’s most famous symbols. Note that at the base of the cone, the passengers are reminded to leave their cigarettes in their packs for the trip home.
Use it as advertisement: as this Condor Taxi makes its way along Omotesando, one can’t help but notice the long sign mounted on the rear side of the roof top. What might it be for? It informs passengers of special bargains! To catch your attention, the light gradually changes colours from blue, to indigo, to yellow, to pink, to green, to white, making it unmissable in the Tokyo night. Light show!
Next we found a Kojin Taxi bearing a light with three stars on it. You have to know that these can only be proudly displayed on taxis driven by “master drivers.” In other words, drivers who have not had a traffic violation or accident in at least a year…
Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture
We headed northbound from Tokyo to Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, and found several taxis that seemed to have a fascination with ladybugs. They bring luck, for sure! Other companies sported royal crowns, which might suggest a regal ride, or wings, floating over the surface of the road. How fancy!
Kawaii! A red ladybug…
… and one in blue.
Choose the “royal ride,” which is fit for a king.
… or the peaceful journey of a dove, spreading its wings.
Simple and honest - just the name of the company printed on a sphere…
… or how about these two bold and obtuse shapes for Hamada taxi.
Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
Taxi lights in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima either seem to utilise traditional Japanese fonts or the silhouette of nearby Tsuruga Castle. Very traditional!
So cute for a cab! A plum blossom-shaped light!.
For instant recognition, the Maruichi company cleverly places a horizontal line in a circle.
With a sense of tradition, this light actually reads from right to left (”taxi” in Katakana.)
Go for the local heritage! This light illuminates an image of Tsuruga Castle, a famous 14th century landmark.
However, designing one of these lights is not as easy as it seems: although there are many creative examples, some restictions are imposed on the industry, regarding colors and the size of a sign. For example, red colors can only be used in some regions and the dimensions of non-smoking signs are also regulated.
Hiroshima City
In Hiroshima, many taxis have oblong lights. Not to mention the different fares that might be printed on these signs - the minimum fare in a Tokyo taxi is ¥710, but in Hiroshima it is only ¥560.
At a bargain price of ¥560? Hardly a Tokyo taxi!
This “Kato-chan Taxi” has such a cute name - and a cute sign.
Wow! Sleek retro design…
… and “Green” - a ride for the environmental conscious?
Fukuoka City
Finally, we went south to have a look at the taxi lights in Fukuoka. Interestingly, we came across a lot of rounded or Japanese fan-shaped taxi lights in this region!
Look, a paper fan! At least this sign resembles it a bit…
… and this small cute detail, a peach, draws your attention to it for sure.
A rough, hand-written font…
… and a green reef displaying a Japanese coat of arms.
A big, bold and blue light…
…and a more delicate one with a nice logo in soft green.
As always, thanks to everyone who helped us with this! Next time you hop in a taxi, pay attention to its elaborate logo!
28 Comments
- Share and Enjoy:
As of December 31, 2008, PingMag and sister site PingMag MAKE are both on extended hiatus, and will not be updated for the foreseeable future. We are eternally grateful for your fantastic support over the years.
Important Notice
31 Dec 2008
Ryu Itadani: A World in Colors
29 Dec 2008
Magibon: From YouTube to Japan
26 Dec 2008
Benedetta Borrometi: Cheerful Paintings for All
24 Dec 2008
Nakagin Capsule Tower: Architecture of the Future
22 Dec 2008
Cute and Pop! 60s Girls Comics by Eico Hanamura
19 Dec 2008
Japan’s Hi-Tech Toilets
17 Dec 2008
Amusement: Gaming Culture Meets Art and Fashion
15 Dec 2008
HIROCOLEDGE: A New Tradition that Blends into Modern Times
12 Dec 2008
Masato Seto: The Sweet Allure of Betel Nut Beauties
10 Dec 2008
good to see you’re getting back to your roots…
Posted by: terd berner on March 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
They are all gorgeous! They make the city all colourful at night. It always confuses me that a vacant cab will have a RED set of characters in the window while a cab with a customer will show GREEN characters in the windscreen. Sort of opposite of Stop and Go so it is confusing…
Posted by: Anonymous on March 13th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
It would be interesting to do an article in Pingmag MAKE about how these are created. I believe they mould them in wooden moulds.
Posted by: Peter on March 13th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
[...] Photos from PingMag - read full article here [...]
Posted by: » Taxi woes! Random Inscriptions on March 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Im sorry but your articles are getting
really silly.
Posted by: Anonymous on March 13th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
@anonymous
just the opposite. articles of this kind put the focus on little discussed/shared areas….much more valuable (in my view anyway) than pro-focused content which are the same as anywhere else.
hooray for originality
Posted by: terd berner on March 13th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Wow, cool.
I did a picture from a taxi my selfe. With a nice background from Ginza :-)
Posted by: mee on March 14th, 2008 at 1:06 am
What about an article on the fly ride cabbies have like the Toyota Crown Comfort?
Posted by: Ged Carroll on March 14th, 2008 at 4:28 am
I loved the article! This is exactly the kind of things that you never find in a tourist book,but you’re dying to kown.
Great work, like usual! :D
Posted by: Sam on March 14th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Is this one of many reason why taxis in Japan is expensive?
I fancy the automatic back door tho.
Posted by: Ray on March 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am
ya ma die??
lol
Posted by: diablo 2 cd keys on March 14th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I find one of the huge appeals to checking Pingmag so often is the fact you never know what could be written about. Great work guys, some very bizarre looking logos that seem quite odd perched on top of a taxi :D
Posted by: Stewart on March 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
[...] Elements of urbanscape: taxi An article of Ping mag on Taxi lights. [...]
Posted by: Elements of urbanscape: taxi « giacomo butte in tokyo on March 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
genius, this kind of observation of the kind of thing that the masses ’see’ but dont actually ‘look’ at makes this blog special - keep on keeping on and ignore the detractors.
Posted by: peaky on March 14th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
This is a perfectly relevant facet of design to explore in PingMag–I love that you find these small details and focus in on them!
Posted by: Heather Taylor on March 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Good stuff! Here is a nice Hokkaido one for your collection
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard_hogg/411301369/in/set-72157594571172851/
Posted by: Dick on March 15th, 2008 at 9:31 am
That’s what I love about Japan. Every little part are so cute and colorful!
Posted by: nico on March 15th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
“Prowling the city of Tokyo are hoards of taxis,”
Should be “hordes”. :)
Posted by: Aegir on March 16th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[...] 日本著名网络杂志博客网站——PingMag最近发布了一篇关于日本出租车顶灯的日志，现全文翻译如下： 注意过吗？日本东京的出租车顶灯可谓花样众多，设计各不相同，在东京的夜色中，各显初秋 [...]
Posted by: 日本的出租车顶灯 | 4空间 on March 18th, 2008 at 12:06 am
[...] http://pingmag.jp/2008/03/13/taxi-lights/ [...]
Posted by: Taxi « Moustier-City on March 26th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I don’t get it. what’s special about these cab lights? I travel a bit on business and I see cabs with various types of roof lights in different cities around the world. The Japanese writing system pretty much dictates what’s on the cab.
Posted by: anonymous tu on March 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
[...] you recognize a Japanese taxi if you saw [...]
Posted by: jesse richardson dot com » Blog Archive » Linkage #8 on March 30th, 2008 at 8:08 am
[...] ist nur eine kleine Auswahl von der Seite pingmag.jp/…/taxi-lights, dort gibts noch 20 weitere Exemplare zu bestaunen (Klick aufs Bild führt auch dorthin, herzlichen [...]
Posted by: taxi-blog.de » Blog Archive » Taxischilder in aller Welt on March 30th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
i was Perth cabbie from 1976 to 2007 dig this blog bro !!! cool as..
Posted by: chewy on March 31st, 2008 at 1:21 am
[...] Hailing a cab in Japan must feel like interrupting a Walt Disney parade, or at least it was my impression when I first saw a taxicab in Japan by night. The top light aka rooflight, the normal sign that shines “Taxi” in the rooftop was instead a radiant-glowing mini-sculpture of different shapes and colors. I have to confess is my wish to pay a visit to this incredible country and check out with my own eyes the diversity of their unique taxi top lights. For more info visit pingmag.jp [...]
Posted by: Taxi Lights of Japan « Taxidepot Mag on January 13th, 2009 at 8:20 am
[...] Prowling the city of Tokyo are hoards of taxis, chasing down lonely passengers on their way, to and fro. Characteristically, all are equipped with automatically opening doors and a driver’s white gloves. However, little distinguishes these roaring vehicles, classically Japanese, outside the small glowing beacon perched on the center of their tops - each company from every region set themselves apart with their own special logo and shape. How practical, since, from far, a passenger can see what type of ride they are in for that night! Read the full story>>> [...]
Posted by: Kevin Mcgue - Tokyo-Based Journalist & Filmmaker » Flashy Lights: Taxi Illumination In Japan on March 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
i would like to get the taxi top advertising board price my e. mail odiango74@yahoo.co.nz
please reply
thank you
zuddy ogogo
Posted by: zuddy ogogo on June 15th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Taxi lights were first used only in emergency situations. When taxis became widespread, they were considered luxurious extravagances, enjoyed by wealthy patrons.
Posted by: Wrought Iron Furniture on July 31st, 2009 at 11:10 pm