(hide this)
 
日本語/Japanese  Wed 06/06 23:11 JST
I know that theres many of you who have goals of living in Japan one day. Well when you first come over, you can bet that you will never have to feel lonely what with Tenga and Candy Girl rentals available freely.

Another thing that will prevent you from ever feeling lonely is the amount of stuff that you get through your postbox...

So whats all this then? These are leaflets (called Chirashi(チラシ)) advertising just about anything from pet grooming, offers to purchase land - and of course Code Geass Pizza Hut.
Have been receiving crap like this in the postbox for the 9 years that I have been here. Its actually a major problem for most citizens. Didnt think there was anything I could do about it until I got really miffed one day after realizing how much of my life I was wasting sorting through this crap. But I done something (without involving deaths) that has put a stop to all of this...
Japan Post (click to enlarge)
Done a search to find that people stuck up signs on their postbox saying "Please dont put in any chirashi" (チラシを入れないでください) and the feedback was that it didnt work.
I then read that adding a "24 hour video surveillance"(監視カメラ作動中) reduces the amount a little.
I took a step further and added a "Pictures of people who stick in chirashi will have their face-photo uploaded to the internet."(投函した者の顔写真をネットにアップします)

The result was that the 10-20 chirashi per day was reduced to *zero* chirashi! I'm pretty happy about this as you can imagine ^^;

There is another type of chirashi known as Pink Chirashi which is basically call girl leaflets. I think I got a few in the past but not many - you can see them stuck in phone booths all over Tokyo too.

I saw a picture on some Korea blog (cant remember where) of chirashi being stuck to the bloggers door! Dont know if thats a common thing over there though.
Japan Post (click to enlarge)
Polls
Zer0 in Singapore
Keyboard Warrior
Registered on 2007/01/11 18:55
Death to spammers
(ID #49205) Posted on 2007/06/07 00:43
valho in Malaysia
Graphic Designer
Registered on 2007/05/04 12:29
a very common thing where i stay, sometime they put it in the post box, sometimes they just slide it between the gate, some just throw it in. we get leaflet, namecard, brochure and surprisingly here even some big company do it, just not frequently
(ID #49207) Posted on 2007/06/07 00:53
Student
Registered on 2007/05/31 11:24
Great! This will help me a lot when I move there.
(ID #49208) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:07
lanie-emon in Keldabe, Malaysia
Mandalorian in training + Otaku...
Registered on 2007/06/05 11:28
Same problem here. They chuck bunch of worthless leaflet. And sometimes, if they are lazy, they stuck in a whole postbox of leaflet. Lazy bums. And putting 'no leaflet' sign won't work either, sigh.
(ID #49209) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:09
jonhohx in Adelaide working to go to Tokyo
Government agent
Registered on 2007/05/14 19:31
in malaysia they dont care about signs...they just hire some poor indian kid to go round neighbourhoods and put all that crap in the postbox...
(ID #49210) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:14
akaugly in The Firehouse, 2nd floor
Self-employed
Registered on 2007/03/30 11:19
We get a lot of leaflets in the U.S. too. We call em advertisements :P

haha..what a great idea saying you'll upload their picture on the internet. I dunno if i can get away with that here though..
(ID #49211) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:18
Demacrez in Evansville, Indiana, US
Link Cosplayer, Video Gamer, Amatuer Programmer, and Artist
Registered on 2006/12/25 13:31
Hmm... maybe I should try that here Danny.  It could probably work wonders. :3

So if my goal does succeed in me living in Japan, I'll take your advice and make a similar strip so that Chirashi doesn't get in my mail and burn away those precious seconds of my life.
(ID #49212) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:18
3den in Takasaki City!!
Registered on 2007/03/16 16:01
hmm..isnt it good for wacking if it is a pink chirashi
(ID #49213) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:50
Henry in Makati, Philippines
anime/cosplay events organizer
Registered on 2006/12/25 19:17
LOL. the japanese offline version of Spam XDDD. you wish there's a "delete" button XDDD

glad those Spam mails here has become less and less compared in the past where we get all sorts of crap
(ID #49214) Posted on 2007/06/07 01:51
Angelo Visconti in France
web designer
Registered on 2007/05/18 07:29
Hell Danny, I feel you. We also get that ton of stuffs in our mailboxes here. The sticker "no add please" works well as they seem less agressive than in Japan.

As for the "PInk flyers" i did cover my Toilet walls with that kinda stuffs when i was a student...they came from London though...

(ID #49215) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:00
Subaruhess in Portsmouth, UK
Registered on 2006/12/24 22:37
Ahh junk mail you just love to hate. Its not much of a problem here in the Uk usually just local ads, postal workers in my area are very helpful with removing junk mail. Got to have your pizza hut whilst watching code geass ^^.
(ID #49216) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:09
Aya Kyunik in Melbourne, Australia
Hobby Store clerk guy thing...
Registered on 2007/05/22 16:38
I almost feel sad that I don't get any of that. 

I live in an apartment so only the postman has access to the secure post boxes on the ground floor, meaning no one can actually open it, or put anything in it, without the key to the specific box, or the key to the backroom where the postman can insert the letters.

If I saw that note saying my face will be posted on the internet, I think i'd be more inclined to do it ^^;;
(ID #49218) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:11
windbell in Singapore/シンガポール, Tokyo/東京
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Registered on 2006/12/25 12:20
Ah! Those adverts! I don't really get these as I stay at a private estate.

Probably get one of those USB BB guns when I shift over to Japan ^^;

http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/23/usb-bb-gun-sports-barrel-mounted-webcam-ensures-home-security/
(ID #49219) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:19
Kirakun in Ipoh, Malaysia
Auditor
[f] 
Registered on 2007/06/02 22:35
While I was in Malaysia, i don't recall getting any leaflets. Probably cause I stay in a smaller town (Ipoh) than those in Kuala Lumpur.
In Melbourne, I do get a little I guess. I only get those leaflet when one of the residents in the apartment requested those services and let them into the mail room. Most of them are like special deal coupons for pizza while at times i use those coupons >_> But still not as much as what i have seen in the first picture. 
The fact that why i get not as much leaflet compared to others here is still uncertain. Melbourne is strict or just the fact the camera along with the HUGE SIGN "NO JUNK MAIL" did the trick.
(ID #49220) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:20
Jay Cee in São Paulo, Brazil
Registered on 2007/02/08 02:54
Analogic spam sux big time.
(ID #49221) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:25
Alafista OTAKU in Singapore
Policy & Research Officer
Registered on 2006/12/25 11:34
For Singapore flats, the mailbox actually has a very nice flap that allows you the option to either open it or block if off so that those irritating leaflets dun get through. As for normal mail, the mailman distribute them into our mail through another method. Maybe I should blog about this another time ^_^
(ID #49222) Posted on 2007/06/07 02:31
April in Atlanta, Georgia
Hey,

I came across your site from plastic bamboo. You have alot of nice pictures from Japan and I was looking at your pictures from living in Tokyo. I would like to move there one day but I have heard you get very little apartments and its quite expensive. Is there anything you can tell me about living there if its not too much trouble?

Thanks!
April
(ID #49224) Posted on 2007/06/07 03:11
Leccoc in Cancun, Mexico
Student
Registered on 2007/05/22 13:24
It's not surprise, nowadays everything is a business. Publicity and advertising are just a way to get money. I still don't understand how that works though. But why we have to suffer if we're not interested at all?

I barely receive any, thank God. And what's worst, all the paper that's thrown to the trash. It's all just wasted paper. u_u
(ID #49225) Posted on 2007/06/07 03:51
Edward in Michigan U.S.A.
Troubleshooter, Universal Exports
Registered on 2006/12/24 12:02
Wish that would work here in the states.  USPS claims it's their job to deliver all the mail.  Now isn't that just special, I get pull it out of my box, take it into the house and throw it into the trash.  Real insult is I pay for it too, in the form of higher postage rates.  Don't get me started on the credit card, mobile phone and home mortgage junk mail...

Did I tell you how much I hate junk mail.  ^^
(ID #49231) Posted on 2007/06/07 04:16
James in Rural Saitama
Student
Registered on 2007/01/18 20:07
Out here in the inaka, we don't get many fliers in our mailboxes.  Maybe once or twice a week I get one or two ads for apartments or sushi delivery. 

Nothing cool like prostitution ads...
(ID #49232) Posted on 2007/06/07 04:31
Otaku Blue in London
Student
Registered on 2007/05/12 22:32
This is a major major problem in the UK. This subject has also been on the news several times and theres even been small videos on the news that show you how to deal with it. You would think though,that the people who give the leaflets to you have something better to do with thier lives though.
(ID #49233) Posted on 2007/06/07 04:54
Arekusu in The Lost Woods
Dai Gurren Dan member
[f] 
Registered on 2006/12/31 18:24
This happens all the time in the UK, your pick up your daily delivered news paper, and a million leaftlets fall out xD Then throughout the day we get leaflets asking if we want double glazing, a gardener and anything else utterly useless to me and my family.

One of the strangest ones we had delivered before was one asking if we wanted to sell our house because someone wanted to move into the area o.O
(ID #49237) Posted on 2007/06/07 06:35
Hwang in England
Student of all things
Registered on 2007/04/05 21:45
i get 3 tons of junk mail stuffed inside the local paper every saturday, the paper is really thin and the junk is like an inch thick ;) pretty terrible when you consider all this fuss over the climate, just ban trash mail and youve saved a rainforest..!
(ID #49240) Posted on 2007/06/07 07:15
Ujuj in Paris
Programmer
Registered on 2006/12/24 22:31
Very good idea for your mailbox ! ^^
Pink chirashi !? Is prostitution legal in Japan ? Could you explain us what's the difference between prostitution, call-girls and bar hostess ?
(ID #49243) Posted on 2007/06/07 08:26
XII in Munich, Germany
Student
Registered on 2007/06/05 01:48
Well, I have to luck to live in a area with not so much spam. We have regular "Newspapers" that arrive twice a week, they contain nothing but advertisements. Yet they manage to be about 0.5 - 1 cm thick at some some times.
(ID #49244) Posted on 2007/06/07 08:47
MosKAU in Dark Northern Forests (Finland)
Student
Registered on 2007/03/06 22:22
i just added a sign saying "No Junkmail" and it stopped :O ofc there are sometimes ads inside newspapers etc =)
(ID #49245) Posted on 2007/06/07 08:47
Fonzler in a small dark room in Sydney, Australia
萌え命
Registered on 2007/05/31 23:14
Wow....sure takes a lot to deter Japanese junk mail. 
I used to have a part time job delivering leaflets out here in Sydney where the enforcement of  "no junk mail" signs is actually pretty strict. If a resident chooses to complain to the company, the offending employee can potentially be fired.
(ID #49247) Posted on 2007/06/07 09:28
Hatix in Antwerp, Belgium
IT, Programmer, ...
Registered on 2007/04/25 05:14
In Belgium it's not that big of a problem but there is still the usual weekly pile of ad papers. But we can get a sticker at the post office if you don't want them. The text on it says that you don't want any unaddressed mail, so you only get mail that is sent directly to you in you name and address. And it works, and I think they are quite strict about it too here, don't know that.

But it's a good tip if I ever gonna live a month in Japan :)
(ID #49248) Posted on 2007/06/07 09:52
Trent in Minnesota
Otaku
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
Yeah, we get some junkn mail every day, but it's like two leaflets and a coupon magazine, never anything that bad. And i'm sure that putting anything like call girl leaflets would be illegal...
(ID #49249) Posted on 2007/06/07 11:29
bolt in Tampa Fl.
security/student
Registered on 2007/04/17 14:53
when i lived in a small town, i had a few here and there.. not much though... but once i moved in to a big city... 3-5 pieces every day now... theres a big trash can by the mail boxes full of leaflets.. only ones i consider useifull is a couple of the coupons.. but not much there either..  

thats a good idea of loading mail spammers phots up.. he he..
(ID #49250) Posted on 2007/06/07 14:07
Zeroblade in Manila, Philippines
Student
Registered on 2007/04/10 21:47
Eh, I only get one or two folded in between the door and the wall if I'm lucky. It's a lot worse when you're out though; people hand you all sorts of leaflets and such - mostly of offers and real estate (condominiums in particular). I have to wonder though... do you actually keep that figure on your mailbox all day long? 
(ID #49251) Posted on 2007/06/07 14:28
Cyberdelics in Rome, Italy
Information technology
Registered on 2007/02/07 19:38
I recive a lot of leaflets!I read only the technology ones.
(ID #49252) Posted on 2007/06/07 15:15
-XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
Student Engineer
Registered on 2007/01/01 14:12
Yup, we receive some but not many on our doorknobs. In the mail, yes we receive tons of junk mail, usually most of it is perfume/clothes. Not really a bother, its free paper to paint my model kits with =)
(ID #49253) Posted on 2007/06/07 15:18
Gav in Northumberland, UK
Tech support
Registered on 2006/12/26 05:38
We get plenty crap through our letterbox, but the free newspapers are great for protecting the table when I'm painting and the takeaway food menus usually have some good offers on!
(ID #49256) Posted on 2007/06/07 16:39
Registered on 2007/01/14 21:51
ah! Spam can also be pratical, lol...The distribution guys around here put tons of leaflets in the hall of my building, some of them don't even try the mail boxes, they just put 20 or even more in the stairs.(this building only has 3 floors so it's a lot XD) 
Anyway I work in construction and I need a lot of paper for windows, details and stones before I paint inside the houses SO yea I love spam XD. FREE PAPER! 
Only a bad side, sometimes those guys wake me up in the morning... Ah my lovely bad mood and a distribution guy running like a rabit down the street after some %%#%$$# cof, very polite words ^^. They always return ^^ at least the new ones, the ones that get scared just ring to another neighbor.
(ID #49257) Posted on 2007/06/07 17:21
loplop in Somewhere on the Tokyo Subway
H/R Type person
Registered on 2007/02/10 15:13
And I thought I received a lot of junk mail where I live . . . .
(ID #49258) Posted on 2007/06/07 19:54
D_Blade in Montreal
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Registered on 2006/12/31 22:48
Never forget to recycle! 

Junk mail is never good in my sense (if not specifically targeted) -but of course it might not be "junk" anymore in that case-.
(ID #49310) Posted on 2007/06/08 20:30
Danny Choo in Tokyo
Director/代表取締役
Registered on 2006/12/11 11:06
Zeroblade,
Only when she feels like it ^^;

Ujuj,
Hmmm. I'm not an expert but they all sound the same ^^;

April,
Have a look under the Japan category for tips.

Windbell,
I need one of those for cats!

3den,
Possibly.
(ID #49385) Posted on 2007/06/09 12:12
大学生
Registered on 2007/01/11 04:22
On the whole, while it can be annoying at times, I'd rather have チラシ than bills.
(ID #49386) Posted on 2007/06/09 12:14
Registered on 2006/12/30 10:06
If any of the leaflets come with a paid-for, self-addressed envelope, you can stuff a month's worth of leaflets into a large package, stick said envelope on the front, and then mail it.

The spam company will have to pay for the high postage.  I suppose you can also put in a few bricks too ^^
(ID #49593) Posted on 2007/06/13 11:09
kurz in malaysia
collect them n send to recycle n get sth back..lol
(ID #49681) Posted on 2007/06/14 17:39
syrix in U.S.
student
Registered on 2007/03/21 09:30
No wonder recycling is such a serious thing in Japan, its used for this kind of stuff lol which gets recycled afterwards, its a never ending cycle of recycling.
(ID #49686) Posted on 2007/06/14 23:07
ap in the Diego
Denno Coil Encoder + Tangerine Slicer
Registered on 2007/08/07 13:23
beautiful
(ID #54900) Posted on 2007/08/19 18:44
lostandfound in a UFO... catcher...
Part human, part student, 100% loser
Registered on 2007/10/22 02:10
No problems with chirasi here...
(ID #168325) Posted on 2008/04/08 23:49
microdark in Portugal
University Student
Registered on 2007/12/05 02:02
We have a law that prevents advertising on your postbox. It's a sign that you place on yours postbox that states the law that protect your postbox from being filled with advertising, it also means that you can legally sew the company.This law has some years and today you don't see to much of these stickers. Only get a few flyer's and most are useful, like items price on Supermarkets, other junk, like tarot readers and stupid stuff. Like the electronics stores advertisings.
(ID #201802) Posted on 2008/06/01 10:21
Oat in Thailand
Engineer
Registered on 2008/03/19 23:45
This is pretty lame question but are the girl in pink shirachi do all the entire dolphin wax process or just rub with their body shake the dolphin or eat it alive.I think entire waxing process still illegal in Japan.I have to try one if I visit there that my beyond goal
(ID #201825) Posted on 2008/06/01 11:16
Mauro Muraca in Rosario,Santa Fe,Argentina
Law Student
Registered on 2008/05/30 21:22
Damn you are lucky danny, here in my country there are no regulations for mail advertising so companies just flood your mailboxes with crap going from banking ads to dog breeders. The only remedy that we have is to throw them away by ourselves :'(
(ID #201826) Posted on 2008/06/01 11:17
Registered on 2008/03/19 21:49
Danny, I know that you once mentioned that people in Japan are very obsessed with their image rights to the point that you have to always cover any stranger's face up in any photo you take.

But I never thought this would actually have such a great effect on Japan's spammers, lol.
(ID #201990) Posted on 2008/06/01 17:38
Tanario in Esbjerg, Denmark
Study
Registered on 2007/11/03 03:50
Well luckily in ym country you can get those stickers, from the postal service and they are well respected and stops the spamming.
They will flood your summer residence though, cause you can only get the official sticker to one house.
(ID #202001) Posted on 2008/06/01 18:34
TKD GUNDAM in Fo shan
STUD
Registered on 2008/06/01 18:34
I was there in the publicity leaflets to the others, you can not refuse
(ID #202024) Posted on 2008/06/01 19:02
Actar in front of his laptop in balmy Singapore
Student, Slave to the Education System :)
Registered on 2008/05/28 02:30
Well, leaflets here are also very common.  However, the litter from these Junk maail is where the problem lies.  So, our country has a 'drain' below mailboxes to catch the falling leaflets that people just sweep onto the floor.

Since I live in a private estate, we don't usually get more than 3 - 4 leaflets a day. :)
(ID #202053) Posted on 2008/06/01 21:06
PoWeR in Your House Freeloading
Ultra Freeloader
Registered on 2007/08/28 05:12
why not just glue the mailbox shut??? lol --_--
(ID #202108) Posted on 2008/06/01 23:46
-XYZPDQ in Pennsylvania, United States
Student Engineer
Registered on 2007/01/01 14:12
interesting, we used to get a load of junk mail in the past but for some reason we get a minimal amount of it now. We still get stuff- they send stuff to my house because I am in college (they want me to buy into a credit card, nah-ah).

LOL at your solution.
(ID #202182) Posted on 2008/06/02 02:18
gr33nd in Hungary
Student
Registered on 2008/05/23 09:38
It's really shocking. Your dumpster will be full in 2 or 3 days like that. It can be really annoying. And are there any useful leaflets? Here we get just a few leaflets, and they're sometimes useful. It's rare when we get some junk. 
(ID #202214) Posted on 2008/06/02 03:17
Mr_Rixa in Finland, Mynamaki
Student
Registered on 2008/05/26 00:57
"Pictures of people who stick in chirashi will have their face-photo uploaded to the internet."

--
Hehhe :D damn that was clever :D

Next thing you know there will be ninjas delivering spam to your mailbox
(ID #202292) Posted on 2008/06/02 06:34
StuperRicco in Montreal, Canuck-ville (aka Canada)
buffer
Registered on 2008/07/01 13:19
I don't get much junk mail in my city, except for a bag of flyers for local supermarkets and stores like Wal-Mart (which I dislike).

But yeah, junk/spam mail is starting to become much of a annoyance.
(ID #202304) Posted on 2008/06/02 07:03
MarToonZ in Argentino in Tokyo
Game Designer
Registered on 2008/03/14 19:01
now i dont have problems with this, becauses where im living we have security and cameras even outside in the postbox but when i used to live in yokohama, jessus! they put evething crap inside the box, but danny you said good trick!
(ID #202499) Posted on 2008/06/02 13:05
Animefig in NY
Registered on 2008/07/06 18:39
do you receive lots of leaflets through the post?
sometime ^_^!
(ID #275877) Posted on 2008/08/24 01:40
Previous Articles
Tokyo Commute
comments(27)
Japan Perverts
comments(43)
Tokyo Bicycles
comments(61)
Harajuku
comments(44)
Eroge and Doujinshi
comments(70)
The 3rd Akihabara
comments(68)
Japanese Graveyards
comments(52)
Unit Bathroom
comments(46)
Recycle Japan
comments(37)
Japan smokes
comments(62)
Ultraman
comments(33)
Yamagata Zao
comments(32)
Articles being read right now...
Office attire
comments(31)
Imprint Culture Lab
comments(30)
Darker than Black
comments(53)
Disney Gundam
comments(70)
Kamen Rider Kabuto
comments(30)
A Month in Tokyo  - March 2008
comments(52)
Mobile Suits Ranking
comments(69)
ef a tale of memories
comments(23)
Dream Party
comments(29)
Discoverability
comments(32)
Kawagoe
comments(63)
Tokyu Hands
comments(47)
Recommended
Click here to refresh partner list.
These partner placements rotate and randomly switch places on each page refresh.
View advertising info
and site stats here.
Full list of partners in this slot are listed below.
Featured Feeds
Find out how to put your RSS feed here.