New Work Theme Park Opens

[Mulboyne]

The Asahi (Japanese) reports the opening Kidzania, a new theme park designed to give children experience of the world of work. Although this seems like a perfect way to turn for Japanese society to turn out more drudges, the idea behind the park originally came from Mexico. Children can "work" in a number of places including a hospital, burger restaurant, car dealer, department store and bottling plant. 5-year old Kohei Noguchi told a reporter "I want to work a lot".

[sublight]

What's with the name? Was Totswana already taken?

[Kanchou]

5-year old Kohei Noguchi told a reporter "I want to work a lot".

Oh, the irony.

[Kuang_Grade]

Fuji Tv had a long piece (12 minutes or so) on this the other day...in the segment, they had kids play working as construction workers, fire fighters, airplane stewardess and pizza makers. The kids seemed to be enjoying it, although I don't know how much they would have learned in 20-30 minutes at each job, of which probably 10 minutes is spent getting in and out of uniforms. But they do get "paid" in kidzania script money that can then be redeemed for toys/candy. For the hard working kid wanting to make repeat visits, I believe there is a banking system complete with faux ATM system where you can store your kidzana script money until the next visit and save up for the high cost toys.

It looks like they've done a fair bit of branding work with many of the positions, so you just don't make pizzas, you make mini Pizza-la pizzas and wear Pizza-la uniforms.

And, of course, it is not just programing the kids for industrial consumerism, it also for the betterment of the nation.
http://www.idemitsu.co.jp/e/news/2005/051124.html

At the planned pavilion, Idemitsu hopes to deepen interest in the environment and petroleum-derived energy by giving children the chance to work at a gas station, where they will also experience the vital importance of customer service for themselves. In the process, children will learn the valuable rules and manners they will need in the adult world.

Today, with the NEET (young people Not in Education, Employment or Training) phenomenon becoming an increasingly serious social concern, hopes are that the pavilion will help children formulate positive occupational values from an early age.

[Hanakuso]

I just gotta make a huge tunnel from the theme park to my work and when they finally make it they can experience my excelently fun job... and I can sit in a hammock singing "chop chop , dig dig , chop chop , dig dig"....

[Kuang_Grade]

[Mulboyne]

Mainichi: KidZania theme park employee sacked for molesting 6-year-old girl

A employee of KidZania Tokyo, a theme park where young children can play at performing various jobs, has been fired for molesting a 6-year-old girl, though he has so far avoided charges, police said. The part-time worker from the theme park in Koto-ku was arrested in early March for indecently assaulting the little girl, but released without charge on March 28, it has been learned. Kids' City Japan, the company that operates the theme park, has apologized over the incident. "We have caused great trouble to the girl's family and associates and we are very sorry," a spokesman said. Police said the part-time worker touched the girl's private parts and injured her while she was in the park's airline area, experiencing what it was like to work as a pilot during a visit in late February. Several days later, her parents reported the incident to the police. The KidZania Tokyo worker was arrested in early March.

[Visitor K]

Mainichi: KidZania theme park employee sacked for molesting 6-year-old girl

so, umm.. she must have been "play performing" the job of your average japanese office lady?

[IkemenTommy]

Mainichi: KidZania theme park employee sacked for molesting 6-year-old girl

Oh, the irony.

[sublight]

so, umm.. she must have been "play performing" the job of your average japanese office lady?

A poorly worded snippet from the Mainichi:
"Police said the part-time worker touched the girl's private parts and injured her while she was in the park's airline area, experiencing what it was like to work as a pilot"

Stewardess, maybe...

[Visitor K]

A poorly worded snippet from the Mainichi:
"Police said the part-time worker touched the girl's private parts and injured her while she was in the park's airline area, experiencing what it was like to work as a pilot"

Stewardess, maybe...

hahaha. shit. that was funny.

err.. umm.. cockpit jokes anybody?

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Child work amusement park set for Kansai

KidZania, an amusement park where children can gain experience of more than 80 adult occupations, will open its second branch in the nation in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in March. Originally founded in Mexico in 1999, the first KidZania in Japan opened in October 2006 at LaLaport Toyosu shopping mall in Koto Ward, Tokyo. Unlike deficit-ridden Watashi no Shigoto-kan (Vocational Museum), a government-run vocational experience facility in Seikacho, Kyoto Prefecture, KidZania Tokyo has proven to be extremely popular, attracting more than 1.4 million visitors since its opening, including students from 1,170 schools...The new KidZania outpost will feature several attractions not found in the Tokyo branch, including a sushi shop, a hotel and a music studio. While negotiations are continuing with prospective sponsor firms for some pavilions, Hanshin Electric Railway Co. has been confirmed as sponsor of a train pavilion, which will be the first such experience in any KidZania worldwide...KidZania amusement parks are also scheduled to open next year in United Arab Emirates, Spain, Portugal, South Korea and Chile...more...