SJC wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> Can anyone help me with the text in this image? I don't speak a word of
> Japanese so I can't even make a start :) Thanks in advance to anyone who
> spends some time on it.
>
> http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/8991/japanesecp9.jpg


That sign(?) is saying:
-----------------------------------------------------
Our shop NINBEN was established back in the year of Genroku
12th (ie. 1699) at Nihonbashi (, Edo = Tokyo now).
We have been dealing in katsuobushi straight from the start.
-----------------------------------------------------
[NB]
Genroku is a name of era in Edo times which span is from 1688
till 1703.
The sign like イ^| is their trademark which is well-known in Japan
now.


A web page of that company NINBEN is this:
http://www.ninben.co.jp/

What the hell is Katsuobushi?? Just read the following info, then,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katsuobushi

Cheers,
KEN