As a new driver, you might have noticed the rear glass on some cars sporting a certain sticker, notable for having an arrow shape with one side colored yellow and the other side rendered in green.
The symbol looks harmless enough yet intriguing, as the bright color easily catches one's attention
It’s not a quality control indicator, nor does it indicate membership to some arcane, secret society. Truth be told, it’s actually a little more mundane than that. What you see is called the Shoshinsha mark, also known as the Wakaba (green leaf). This symbol comes from Japan, and is officially known as the Shoshin Untensha Hyoshiki, or ‘Beginner Driver Sign.’
The V-shaped emblem announces to other motorists that the car bearing this sticker has a novice behind the wheel. As such, they should exercise caution around the vehicle, since it is implied that the driver is not very skilled yet. Those in Japan who have just gotten their driver's license are required by law to display the wakaba mark at designated areas of their cars for one year.
Drivers who are still unsure about their skills continue to display the wakaba mark on their cars even after a year
But apart from driving, the wakaba mark is generally used to denote someone who is inexperienced at a certain task. New employees at a company, for instance, might have the mark on their name badges until such time that they are more proficient in their roles. In video games, the wakaba is associated with new players and tutorials.
Another sticker that’s less known is the fukushi or koreisha mark, shown as a teardrop shape colored in yellow and orange but more recently depicted as a four-leafed symbol with two shades of green added. This is used to indicate that a car has an elderly driver at the wheel, as opposed to the wakaba typically used by younger motorists.
In contrast, the koreisha mark is used to identify elderly or senior motorists
While there are experienced license holders who openly use the wakaba mark on their cars to proclaim themselves as fans of the Japanese domestic market or JDM, it might give the wrong impression as the sticker is a connotation that they are still wet behind the ears. Maybe the koreisha sticker is more appropriate since it sends the message that they are more seasoned drivers.
Find more tips for beginner car owners at Philkotse.com.