If you've had the chance to visit Japan, you might have noticed an unusual feature in the traffic lights: they display blue lights instead of the conventional green.
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In most countries, traffic lights follow the international standard set by the Vienna Convention on Traffic Signals in , using red, yellow, and green to regulate traffic. However, Japan breaks this pattern with blue lights instead of the traditional green. Why is this the case?
The reason lies in Japan's cultural and linguistic history. In ancient times, the Japanese language did not clearly differentiate between green and blue, using the word 'aoi' to describe both colors (and no, they were not colorblind '). Although modern Japanese has distinct words for blue ('aoi') and green ('midori'), the transition was not immediate.
During World War II, distinguishing between these colors became critical. The need to paint aircraft carriers in a shade closer to blue highlighted the importance of distinguishing blue from green. This helped avoid confusion and ensured that blue and green were recognised as separate colors.
This linguistic shift reflects how cultural adaptation to post-war needs and significant historical events can shape language.
After the war, although traffic lights with standard green and red lights were introduced in Japan, people still referred to the color green as 'aoi.' This led to some traffic lights displaying blue instead of green, as both colors were commonly called 'aoi.'
In addition to cultural influence, the use of blue in Japan's traffic lights is also related to colour psychology.
Blue tends to convey a sense of calm and security. By using blue in traffic lights, the intention is to communicate 'be calm, but cautious' to drivers and pedestrians, avoiding the anxiety that more intense colours like red or yellow might cause.
So essentially, it's a strategy to keep everyone calm while crossing the road or driving. Fascinating, isn't it?
In , the Japanese government mandated that traffic lights should be green with a blue tint. However, in some areas, you can still find blue traffic lights, serving as a reminder of the cultural and linguistic evolution after World War II.
With advancements in technology, the adoption of LED lights in traffic signals has facilitated a smoother transition between colors. The difference between blue and green is less pronounced in LED lights, which has helped the Japanese population better accept and understand this unique characteristic.
This peculiarity in Japanese traffic lights not only reflects cultural complexity but also embodies the history of adaptation during critical periods, such as the war, and how these events have influenced everyday aspects of Japanese life.
So, the next time you're at an intersection in Japan, take a moment to appreciate the blue lights and remember the history behind them. Travel safely and enjoy! '
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Salaryman/ShutterstockIt's a lesson most of us learn years before we're old enough to see over the dashboard: Red means stop, green means go. Simple enough. But what happens when you live in a culture where green also means blue? (By the way, this is why our own traffic light colors are red, yellow, and green.)
That's when you see things like this. Drive around Japan long enough and you'll probably run into one of the country's mythical blue traffic lights. Elsewhere around the island you'll find 'go' signals that are decidedly teal, turquoise, and aqua. 'Is this signal broken?' you might wonder. 'Did some overworked light-monger install the wrong bulbs?' The answer, as Atlas Obscura points out, is not in the wiring: it's in the Japanese language.
Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese language included words for only four basic colors: black, white, red, and blue. If you wanted to describe something green, you'd use the word for blue''ao''and that system worked well enough until roughly the end of the first millennium, when the word 'midori' (originally meaning 'sprout') began showing up in writing to describe what we know as green. Even then, midori was considered a shade of ao. As you can imagine, this sudden switch-over had lasting effects in Japan. One of the most popular forms of Japanese wordplay is numeric substitution'writing numerals in place of words or letters with the same phonetic value. Find out why the number 39 means thank you in Japan.
Today you'll still see green things dubiously labeled blue. A fruit vendor might sell you an ao-ringo (blue apple) only to disappoint you that it's actually green. Likewise, green bamboos are called aodake ('blue bamboos') and an inexperienced employee who could be described as 'green' in America may be called aonisai, meaning a 'blue two-year-old.' And that brings us to traffic lights.
Initially, Japan's traffic lights were green as green can be. Despite this, the country's official traffic documents still referred to green traffic lights as ao rather than midori. While international traffic law decrees all 'go' signals must be represented by green lights, Japanese linguists objected to their government's decision to continue using the word ao to describe what was clearly midori. The government decided to compromise. 'In , the government mandated through a cabinet order that traffic lights use the bluest shade of green possible'still technically green, but noticeably blue enough to justifiably continue using the ao nomenclature,' Allan Richarz writes for Atlas Obscura.
So, while it may appear that Japan uses blue traffic lights, the government assures us it's actually just a very blue shade of green'green enough to satisfy international regulations, blue enough to still be called ao. Don't ever say bureaucracy never solved anything. (And make sure you brush up on these driving etiquette rules while you're at it.)
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