English is quite popular in Japan. The English alphabet and simple reading and writing is taught in schools from about 5th grade up. Often times kids will come up to us saying "Herro, mai namu isu ____" about the extent of their conversational English. Teaching English is a good avenue for us as foreigners to make contacts as we teach English classes through our church.
You can't help but laugh at the funny English that is written on bags, shirts and notebooks...pretty much anywhere. They are usually a hodge-podge of pleasant words that just don't quite flow. Reading it, from a native English speakers perspective, is quite enjoyable and it always leaves us wondering what exactly they were trying to say.
This shirt reads "Pure Ocean i be well...forever - there we find the sea of our dreams - Explore the future's oceans - Perfect sea conditions" (hmmm - Makes me want to go sailing! How about it dad?)
