Another great example of Japanese edutainment is Kidzania, which opened up in Tokyo back in October. Originally started in Mexico, Kidzania is a world within a world, entirely for kids. Back when I was a kid, I remember going to department stores during Christmas time and shopping in “Santa’s Village”, a kids-only shop with a tiny doorway where kids would buy the latest useless executive gifts for their dads and earrings for their moms. Times have changed.
Shopping in Santa’s Village made me feel responsible, but Kidzania is that times a million. Kids go into the complex but soon get jobs that they have to do to earn the local currency called “kidzos”. Kind of like a real-world Second Life for kids, if that makes any sense. They work in the bank, fight fires, do makeovers, or generally mill about in the tiny town that has everything. In fact, there are over seventy professions to choose from.
Besides teaching them about jobs and economics, the key is to get kids excited for the real world. There are many corporate sponsors that lend their brands to the project as well, giving it a more realistic feeling for the kids. Pizza-la, a Japanese pizza company, has a shop in there as well with kids making real pizzas to sell. There’s even a mobile phone company, hopefully with less confusing plans than the real world.
Here’s some video from Asahi TV:
No word as to whether Kidzania has salarymen in dark suits drinking Asahi Super Dry and smoking Mild Sevens, but we wouldn’t be all that surprised. Now all they need are some trendscouts…
Pictures via Kidzania
Michael is the Editor of JapanTrends.com and Director of the 
i’m going to japanjust for THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!