The Real Reason Detroit Airport Has Japanese Signs

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Although English is the primary language used in the United States (these are the most popular languages in each state), the country has had no official national language for most of its history. The Founding Fathers believed that designating a single language could be divisive in a nation made up of immigrants from many countries.

In fact, Manhattan Island alone had at least 18 languages spoken there as early as 1646, including Dutch, French, Danish, Swedish, English, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Because of America’s long history of immigration, many cities include multilingual signage in areas with large populations of non-English speakers. That linguistic diversity still shows up today in subtle ways—including airport signage.

Why some places include multiple languages on signs

In areas where large numbers of visitors or residents speak other languages, it’s common to see translations on signs. Cities may add Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, or other languages as a courtesy to travelers and residents.

You’ll often see the same idea internationally. In places that attract a lot of English-speaking tourists, English translations frequently appear alongside the local language.

For example, some signs in Macau include both Chinese and Portuguese, reflecting the region’s colonial history and international visitors.

But one U.S. airport has been puzzling travelers for years because its signs are translated into a language most visitors wouldn’t expect: Japanese.

Why Detroit Airport Has Japanese Signs

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) has something that has puzzled travelers for years.

Inside the McNamara Terminal, many directional signs are translated into Japanese.

Even informational signs—like those for the Express Tram inside the terminal—include Japanese translations.

But outside the terminal, the signs are only in English.

And you don’t find any signs translated into Japanese throughout the rest of the city, either.

But Detroit isn’t a city with a large Japanese-speaking population—so why are the airport signs translated?

Why many people guessed wrong

For years, many people assumed the translations were related to Detroit’s automobile industry.

Detroit has long been synonymous with car manufacturing. Companies like Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler dominated the city’s economy throughout much of the 20th century, and Japanese automotive executives frequently traveled there for meetings and partnerships.

So the theory seemed plausible.

But it turns out the real explanation has nothing to do with Detroit’s auto industry—and everything to do with one airline.

The real reason Detroit Airport has Japanese signs

The explanation actually traces back to Northwest Airlines.

According to airport spokesperson Erica Donerson, when McNamara Terminal opened in 2002, Northwest Airlines was the primary carrier operating there.

At the time, Tokyo was one of Northwest’s major international hubs, and Detroit served as a key connection point for travelers flying between Japan and cities across the United States.

Because Detroit was a key gateway between the United States and Japan, the terminal’s designers included Japanese translations to help passengers traveling to, from, or connecting through Detroit on flights to Tokyo.

In other words, the Japanese signage was simply a courtesy to international travelers.

Why are the signs still there today

Northwest Airlines merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008, and Delta became the primary airline operating out of McNamara Terminal.

Delta still operates flights between Detroit and Tokyo, so Japanese travelers continue to pass through the airport.

Because of that—and because replacing airport signage is expensive—the translations have remained in place.

However, airport officials have suggested that if the signs are ever replaced in the future, the Japanese translations might not necessarily return.

FAQ

Why does Detroit Airport have Japanese signs?

Japanese translations were added when the McNamara Terminal opened in 2002 to help passengers traveling between Detroit and Tokyo on Northwest Airlines, which had a major hub in Japan.

H/T Axios

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