Unlike most countries' octagonal stop signs, what shape is the stop sign used in Japan?

Unlike the familiar octagonal stop sign, Japan uses an inverted triangle for its stop sign.

Japan’s sign is a red, downward-pointing triangle, traditionally carrying the Japanese word 止まれ, meaning “stop.” The shape is unusual because the octagon became the dominant international visual convention for stop signs, especially in countries influenced by North American road-sign practice. Japan’s triangular design instead resembles the inverted-triangle form used for priority or stop signs in some other countries.

The current Japanese design dates from the postwar road-sign system introduced in 1963, ahead of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Japan later added English “STOP” alongside the Japanese wording on newer signs, but retained the triangular shape. This helped make the sign easier for foreign visitors to understand without abandoning the established national design.

The sign should not be confused with Japan’s yield or “slow down” signs, which have their own wording and regulatory meaning. The important visual clue is the solid red triangle pointing downward.