pokemon stamp rally 2009, otsuka station

[waider]

It can be a good experience for them if the parents are smart and taking them to the specific places of the stations and try to teach them the info about the location of the station (some trivia for example). Of course not any station has something interesting to learn about but at least it makes the parents spend time with their kids...... and might give a huge profit bump to JR for that period

[Ibanez7777]

3:16-3:41:

Why does everything that children do always have to do something with learning? Why should their activities be measured by usefulness only, if adults do SO much stuff that is not useful at all (which is okay)?

[hiphoplivs]

ya these parents must be psychoatic dragging these kids all around town just to get these stamps obbsessive complusive is right, this is not bonding with your child this is not teaching your child anything but what "pokemon" is at what train station like you said take em to a fucking zoo or get em som ice cream and take em to a park or somthing!

[kuzuboshii]

This is the same thing as the Kamakura sanjusan kannon, just for kids, and with pokemon. You should study Japanese culture more before commenting on it. Especially if you are going to be living or staying over there. Geeze.

[SnakeSLiq]

Actually, I'd say that you pointing out this stamping process has already been a part of Japanese culture backs up Tim's statements more than anything.

[kesel5588]

my sympathies goes to your parents for having you. all i really wanted was to comment on the fact that different people have different views. Just because you felt that this trivial activity might be insignicant to you doesn't mean it would to a 5 year old. And yes, I didn't use punctuation properly.

[SnakeSLiq]

So you're saying:

"I just wanted to remind you that people have differing opinions."

Shit, I forgot. Thanks.

[kesel5588]

And? this is youtube comments for god's sake. get your head out of your ass already. I've never started any personal attacks, but your response to my response just goes to proof how low of a person you are. Brilliant? Go to a local bakery of yours and get yourself a slice of humble pie.

[kesel5588]

to us this trivial activity might be meaningless but to the kid this might mean a lot more. On the contrary, what makes you think studying chinese isn't another one of the "amusement adults contrive for children." Get off your high horse already. Yes, you studied chinese when you were a kid, so did I. It doesn't make either of us any more brilliant.

[ActionButtonDotNet]

it has come to my attention (via the idiotic question you try to pose in the second sentence of your comment ("try" meaning that you forget a question mark) that you might be a unibrowed leprechaun!

so, why should i get off my "high horse"? because you don't HAVE a horse? why should i do that?

also, might i ask what kind of dreams you typically have? i seldom get the opportunity to pose this question to someone who is required by law to wear a football helmet to bed every night.

[ActionButtonDotNet]

in case you don't understand what i just said in my last comment (probability: 95% likely) i am asking you to reevaluate your attempt to conduct intelligent discourse with a human. you insinuated that "studying chinese" might be something of a hobby adults invent for children.

it's a millennia-old language, man!

also, how DARE you assume that just because you studied chinese and are not brilliant that i am also not brilliant! don't sweep me into your pile! you can't even use a fucking comma!

[kesel5588]

First of all, no one told them to hop back on the train once they got their stamps. Secondly, just because you think this is stupid doesn't mean it is to a kid. This can be time for bonding between the parent and the kid. I'm sure you did meaningless childhood crap when you were a kid i.e. flying kites, playing with marbles, folding paper planes.

[ActionButtonDotNet]

how DARE you accuse me of being a hypocrite on an something like this. are you capable of realizing how amazingly narrow-minded your belief that children absolutely MUST do "meaningless childhood crap" is? when i was a child, for example, i was brilliant. (and i hated children as much then as i do now.) i had my own interests; i studied chinese, for example.

that said, i am not criticizing the children. i am criticizing the amusements adults contrive for children.

(for fuck's sake!)

[drmifune]

youtube comments lol :(

[cwoxviii]

Fetch quest irl.

What does this teach kids? To be good little soldiers: to do whatever drudgery is asked of them without question, for the promise of nothing in particular.

[1p2o3i]

That's a fascinating insight into Japanese pastime idiocy. It's frightening that so many parents have no idea how to parent their children and ethico-morally strengthen them.

Love your article on Kotaku, it's right up my alley!

[nbeope]

Dude, this is 8 minutes long?

[ZitzBracket]

god, why does this guy sound like such an idi--oh wait he writes for Kotaku

[Rapture639]

LOL so true!

[owl975]

The point is to teach kids how to ride the train and get to know different stations. In Japan its safe to ride the train if your a kid and there is no risk of getting snatched away. Its fun for the kids. I'm finding it hard to understand why thats so hard to understand for this guy.

[FlexBuffChest89]

Wow you're VERY articulate.... NOT LOL, "UH UH UH UH UH UH I'M A STUTTERING MORON" You're basically saying "I don't find this entertaining, why do little kids find this entertaining?" Also you question why parents do this with their children if they themselves dont find it entertaining, that's part of being a parent you idiot. You don't live your life for yourself you do nice things of other people. You're an idiot.

[CaptainCool08]

you're a faggot. nobody cares.

[seravee00]

Dude, are you serious? "What is this teaching them?" What does playing card games teach anyone? It's a game. They're having fun. Getting a book stamped isn't going to make you OCD or a kleptomaniac. What the hell.

[sewe3007]

It's kind of hillarious that after all that work you just get a little stuffed doll and a sticker, but at the same time it's a little sad.

[windsweptDemyx]

A stuffed doll worth like $75 retail, mind you.

[sebbef]

The winning prize is cheaper than all these train tickets, I mean they waste more money on tickets than the winning prize is worth

[Rapture639]

lol I don't sense a bit of arrogance and/or prejudice in this video...

Nope... None at all

...

Seriously though, who are you to judge what these people do and what they decide to do with their kids? I'm sure some1 from Japan could go to America and make a similar video and judge how poorly American parents spend time with their kids. At least these parents are actually spending time WITH their kids and not letting the TV or computer take care of them.

[TheVeer]

but the children only do this because Nintendo has stolen their souls. why would you do this with your kids anyway wouldn't you just buy the freaking stuffed Pokemon for them, instead of exhausting them all day.and im not saying that parents shouldnt spend time with their kids but when i was a kid, we would go out on actual vacations or to eat, or to the zoo,movies etc.

[EnglandoIV]

Great article and video. You have the best articles on Kotaku.

[TadakoXIII]

WOW. WHAT A BRILLIANT CONCEPT!! A terribly devious strategy to steal commuters' money AND children souls!! :D LOLZ JUST KIDDING!! ...kind of. Harhar, but nah, I can prolly come up with some gray area reasons and apply them to certain situations to make this concept less "wtf"-ish... but i'm too lazy. ¦B

[GForced89]

That's so... sad. It's your one day off to spend with your (probably only) child, and you spend it stamping a booklet. But that's what your child wanted, so you go ahead and do it. There's got to be a better way to spend time with your children than riding a train. D=

Maybe after riding on the train, you could walk around the neighborhood and see the sights, try some food, have a conversation. Downplay the whole "stamping" thing as an excuse to travel around and bond.

[CaffeinatedGuy]

People learn in different ways. People enjoy life differently. What is your motive to judge?

[CaffeinatedGuy]

Just read the article. Makes more sense. Marketing is interesting.

[Dude902]

You sound so funny in this video, like a conspiracy theorist. In a good way. :P

[xopher314]

The guy narrating this is the classic example of thought police.

"These kids like doing this, but I don't understand why so they shouldn't do it."

[Kivenkantaja1]

NEVER LEAVE US AGAIN tim rogers, KEEP THE FEATURES ROLLING IN

[bathroomStallPoet]

someone should count the number of 'uh's in this video :P

this kinda reminds me of the Burger King Pokemon toy promotion... the toys were all gone from all the restaurants! But they only did that once

[MisterKiyoshi]

Cool article on Kotaku man

[Bhinder14]

Like the western them tune of Pokemon. (Or just the version in the UK.)

"Got to catch them all. Pokemon!"

I liked the program when I was 6. But seriously, I'm surprised that so many people, still watch it, and collect the cards.

[ironictoaster]

That's pretty crazy, I'd imagine kids would be nagging their parents to go on trips to other train stations even though they have no reason to go there to get more stamps..

[IrrationalExperience]

So is the throes of Japanese culture and fandom. Something like this, would never fly and certainly never work in any part of North America, I'd assume. Which is kind of disheartening.

[drmifune]

is that just for stations on the yamanote line? man, because if not, that'd be a serious ordeal to get them all