Is The 'Michaelsoft Binbows' Store Real? The Japanese 'Microsoft Windows' Store Explained

A cryptic photo of what appeared to be a Japanese Microsoft Windows-inspired repair or service store began circulating on the internet in the mid-2000s for one peculiar reason; the store's sign misspelled Bill Gates's software company as Michaelsoft Binbows instead.

The photo and store have been the subject of incessant ribbing and memes for decades since the image was first posted on the internet, with the occasional different angle being shared online by visitors to the area of Koaigimachi, Japan. Here's where the meme first began and how it spread.

Where Does The Image Of The 'Michaelsoft Binbows' Store Come From?

Sometime in mid-July 2001, a Japanese blog named "Alf's Room" shared an image of a storefront called Michaelsoft Binbows. The blog discussed the store's name, musing over the bilingual pun formed by referencing the stereotypical American name "Michael" and the use of the word "binbo" which means cheap.

The blog post also theorized about the legality of the parody, ultimately concluding with an update that the store likely closed sometime in 2002.

How Did The 'Michaelsoft Binbows' Image Become A Meme?

The image of the humorous storefront sign continued to circulate around the internet for over a decade after its initial run, with people generally making lighthearted jokes about the sign's misspelling. But many people appeared to not have understood the bilingual pun formed by the misspelling of both words.

Where Exactly Is The 'Michaelsoft Binbows' Store?

In May 2021, YouTuber Nick Robinson posted a video where he set out to locate the store's location in the Japanese region of Maebashi City, Koaigimachi. He walks around the city wearing a VR headset trying to find the location of the store, discussing the ingenuity of the original pun as he does so.

He finally narrows down the location to what appears to be the Japanese equivalent of a strip mall located at "Japan, 〒371-0046 Gunma, Maebashi, Kawaharamachi, 2 Chome−12−14."

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For the full history of the Michaelsoft Binbows meme, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.