Here’s Why Family Mart Cameron Highlands Uses A B&W Signboard

Family Mart has become one of our favourite Japanese convenience store ever since its first store opened in Bukit Bintang back in 2016. Pre-lockdown, when everything was still 24-hours, it was our go-to store for late night cravings.

You can recognise the store from afar due the bright interior as well as its signature green and blue signboard. However, an outlet of Family Mart recently went viral all over the net for being colourless!

Terjumpa Family mart takde dakwat. pic.twitter.com/5VaHiYvObl

— dea (@dearsln) February 11, 2022

The seemingly edited picture of one of Family Mart’s outlet’s signboard, tweeted by Dea (@dearsln), had piqued everyone’s interest on Twitter. She captioned the black and white Family Mart’s signboard picture with, “Found a no-ink Family Mart.” For those who would like to pay a visit to this “no-ink” Family Mart outlet, it is located in Cameron Centrum, Pahang.

However, this black and white signboard put up by Family Mart is for a reason. Twitter user Aqilah (@aqilahbaik) has revealed that this phenomenon is not something foreign in the country of the rising sun. Aqilah explained that in Japan, black and white Family Mart signboards can be found in places that promote nature.

Oh da ada kat malaysia? No wonder baca komen kt cameron! Guys y takde kaler mcm ni biasanya dekat tmpat2 nature cantik-cantik. Dorang mcm being humble, bg nature y lagi menyerlah dekat kawasan tu. Kat nagano banyakk ilerr tkde kaler mcmni. Let’s appreciate nature moreeee! https://t.co/Wgy8TdM3eW

— doudaro🇲🇾 (@aqilahbaik) February 12, 2022

actually the reason behind this is cuz theres a rule in Japan where you cant use colourful signboard near a shrine/temple.

— Ayah Gula (@rraazzaaqq_) February 12, 2022

The signboard is to show the company’s modesty and appreciation towards mother nature, along with trying to avoid overshadowing the beauty of the surrounding greens. She also stated that these black and white outlets can be found mostly in the Nagano prefecture in Japan. Other netizens also stated how Japan has imposed a rule of no colourful signboards near shrines and temples.

In case you didn’t know, Family Mart is not the only one that has implemented this concept in Japan. A few other big brand’s franchises have done the same as well. For example, the 7-Eleven and Starbucks outlets in the Kyoto prefecture are using the monochrome signboard as well, to complement the historical themed cityscape.