why a smoking pinecone?

here’s the explanation I was given: (forgive me if I got some of it wrong, it was a while ago)

firstly, that’s not a pinecone, but a bamboo shoot. Secondly, the word for “bamboo shoot” happens to sound a bit similar to the word for “only”. The sign says “please smoke in designated areas ONLY”. 

seen on the Tokyo Subway

Advertisement