Though still quite long surely this sign was surely once longer-I might guess relating to martial arts of some sort, though it is the right end that was cut off (quite some years ago, and it has aged quite a bit sense), so perhaps it read Arts of Japan or Arts of China? I love the succinctness of just "ARTS" now, and the great red lettering against creamy white, all aged to a great surface. So many contexts this could be good in I think, and with its size it could hover like a header over a whole wall, or room, or life!
40" long x 11 1/2" tall x 3/4" thick.