Japan is for kids

Japan seems to have a love affair with childhood fun and simplicity. Everyone loves children (in some weird ways, too). When we take Carlos on the train all we hear is "Kawaii, Kawaii!" ("Cute, Cute!"). Most restaurants are very family-friendly and bring a little bowl and spoon set for Carlos to eat with. And every department store, beauty salon, car showroom, etc. has a play area for kids, and grocery stores offer crazy meal-time paraphernalia to make your child's meal like a trip to Disneyland.

Take the fish cakes I just bought at the store. You know those white rubbery fishcakes you get with noodle soup at Japanese restaurants? They are white with neon pink borders? Well, nothing so boring for my child who loves (and requests) fish cakes. At the grocery store you can choose between Anpanman (click word to see link on wikipedia) and Minnie Mouse (see photo below) fish cakes. Wanting to raise an open-minded, doll-owning boy, I bought him the Minnie Mouse ones. Unfortunately, we had to cut her up in small pieces for him to eat her. Oh well.

Then there are the toys. So much more fun than boring US toys.

The Japanese toy stores have the most creative interesting toys. We just bought Samurai Guy (we named him that) this weekend... and we think he is quite handsome (or "MUY GUAPO", as Carlos would say).



Below is Carlos' Anpanman scooter with the Keroro Gunso (Sgt. Frog) riding him. (Who says we don't party since we had a kid... this is a party!) Our friend Glen explained that Anpanman is a superhero who saves people by letting them take a bite of his head that is made of cake and he goes back to the factory to get a new head when he needs one. I think that is what David does at work. He gives people new heads.


And then there are the play areas. We found several in Tokyo where you pay 5 dollars to go into a giant play area complete with play zones for kids Carlos' age to about 10 years old. Little block areas and kitchens with fake food. Jungle Gyms for the bigger kids. The big department stores also have fabulous play areas. Carlos likes to ride the little Anpanman rides, but they have video games and train sets and a whole area that you can just check your kid into while you shop (we don't do that... David stays with him). Below is a train car that is for kids (we haven't been on it, I just found it online)















And of course you cannot forget... KIDDIE BEER!!!

They even sell kiddie beer at Toys'r'Us. Why not turn your sweet little boy into a dirty old man that gropes women on the subway and lusts after 13 year olds now? Why wait 'til he is a businessman in Nagoya reading cartoon porn while slurping noodles all alone at a table? Get 'em drunk early and often. OK. This probably doesn't have alcohol, but it is a little strange...

And finally, don't miss this Japanese toilet training video...make sure you get to the #2 (sorry, mom... it is pretty funny)




ANYWAY... if you want to see a cute video of Carlos laughing really, really hard... click here.