also: らくがき · おとしがき
noun
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.
平安時代の落書には、政治を風刺するものが多かった。
Many of the graffiti from the Heian period satirized politics.
Modern sense: careless writing or drawing, often on walls or public surfaces. The spelling 落書き is more common for this meaning, read as らくがき.
See also: 落書き
壁に落書をするのはやめてください。
Please don't scribble on the walls.
トイレの落書きを消すのが大変だった。
It was a hassle to clean off the graffiti in the restroom.
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.