Understanding the Signs: Drug Store Aisles

During my recent trip to the drugstore to pick up some hydrogen peroxide, I figured I would also get some toothpaste. As you know, drugstores like to play hide-and-seek with the items you need most, so I began my search by looking at the signs that hang over each aisle.

Guess what? The signs were all written in Japanese! The English word “toothpaste” did not appear anywhere, but neither did 歯磨き粉 (hamigakiko), the Japanese equivalent. I finally found the word 歯ブラシ (haburashii, “toothbrush”), which was close enough. But it got me thinking: What do all of those other signs say?

If you are wondering the same thing, consider the following table, which documents many of the product categories available throughout the store.

This table just scratches the surface of what drugstores have to offer, a scratch for which they likely offer a healing salve. If you want to see the full list of words from the aisle signs at my local drugstore complete with hiragana readings, click the link shown below.