Help translating a gift

Hello all,

When I was stationed in Okinawa Japan for two years, back in 2004, I made a few friends with the locals. One of them, named Ryo, was a good friend of mine. One my last day on the island he had a going away party for me at this small cafe, called Hirugi Cafe, by the beach in what was called the flea market outside of Camp Foster. He gave me a parting gift, a small wooden placard with a message on it. The problem is when he told me what it meant I mistakenly never wrote down the translation and can't remember what it meant. If anyone can help me translate the meaning into English I would be very appreciative as it would bring back great memories.

Domo arigato gozaimasu

It says, "Don't Shoplift!"

I'd love to know what he told you it means.

Thanks Mike,

HaHa wow that's hilarious. I don't remember him saying that it meant "Don't Shiplift!" but that is really funny. Ryo was a really funny easy going guy. He learned a lot of English from us, I remember that he was really good at guitar and memorized a lot of Jack Johnson songs. He would play them and sign them perfectly but he never knew what all the words meant LOL! Crazy that he could sign all of those songs while never knowing what it all meant, we helped out with that part.

I plan to hopefully one day go back there for a vacation and you never know his cafe might still be there with him behind the bar!

P.S. I/we never shoplifted. LOL

Thanks again Mike

Bought back memories , LOL.

My Japanese friends gave me a samurai sword which was beautiful as a going away present. One mentioned about not trying to cut anything with it. Years later I learned it was one of the tin/zinc copies , not the real thing and would break if struck hard.

Uncle Frank.

:emoji_flushed: