also: らくがき · おとしがき
historical graffiti; anonymous satirical graffiti
Refers to anonymous, often satirical graffiti from pre-modern Japan, especially from the Heian period onward. Not used for modern spray-paint graffiti.
Many of the graffiti from the Heian period satirized politics.
Please don't scribble on the walls.
It was a hassle to clean off the graffiti in the restroom.
Standard kanji spelling for both historical graffiti and modern scribbling.
Common modern spelling for scribbling or graffiti; reading differs from らくしょ.
Rare alternative reading for the historical graffiti sense.
Compound of 落 (to drop, to leave behind) and 書 (writing). Originally referred to anonymous writings left in public places, often satirical. The reading らくしょ is the on'yomi; おとしがき is a rare kun'yomi variant.