Commemorative Photos

記念写真 - The top characters says "Ki'nen shashin." Ki'nen shashin is perhaps the most common photo term in Japan. Literally, it means "commemorative photo," but it has no real English equivalent.

It almost always show a person(s) you know and it's usually posed. They include family, friends, and yourself. It is a visual keepsake to record good memories. The picture answers the who, what, and where questions on a personal level such as travel photos, a meeting with the mayor, or at a friend's birthday party. It can be a casual snapshot or formal portrait.

This sign invites customers to have their photo taken by a pro photographer in front of this famous temple. The second line says "Ippun de dekimasu" meaning ready in 1 minute.