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Creating enjoyment from employment at KidZania
What do you want to be when you grow up?

Young petrol station attendants learn about work while they play

Japan is home to a plethora of theme parks. But most of these sites, beloved by Japanese, concentrate on creating enjoyment rather than creating employment. KidZania could be an exception. This unique new theme park offers children between the ages of three and 15 the opportunity to experience working in real-life professions in a safe, interactive and educational environment.
There are two KidZania "career parks" in Japan, one in Tokyo and one in Koshien, not far from Kobe in Hyogo prefecture. Both are basically towns that have been constructed especially for children. Kids are paid for their "work" in KidZania currency, KidZos, and can open bank accounts or go shopping and spend their KidZos. The aim is to teach children the importance of work and money but KidZania also gives children the opportunity to understand how society functions, and enables them to develop a sense of independence and the skills for conducting social interactions. The children thus learn how to be mature and take responsibility for making their own decisions.

Learning the art of sushi in Koshien

The first KidZania was established in Mexico City in 1999, based on the idea that children represent the future of society. Following its phenomenal popularity and the enthusiastic public response, a second KidZania park was built in Monterrey in northern Mexico in May 2006, followed by a third park that opened in Tokyo in October 2006, the first KidZania in Japan. The park in Koshien, which opened in March 2009, became the world's fifth KidZania park; there are now mini-cities in Korea, India, Jakarta, Dubai and Lisbon.

KidZos, KidZania's own currency

Children visiting KidZania can choose from over 80 activities associated with different occupations, including medical staff at a hospital, fire fighters, and workers at a beauty salon, a bank, radio and television stations, a pizzeria, and a theatre. After choosing a job, the children attend sessions to study their role and are then assigned a specific task while wearing authentic uniforms. The tasks may include navigating an aeroplane, hosting a TV quiz show, patrolling the city as a police officer and preparing tasty treats as a chef. Most KidZania staff members are fully qualified professionals who have undergone training with the relevant sponsor company. A new pavilion at KidZania Koshien features an additional array of exciting occupations children can try. They can now prepare sushi in a sushi restaurant, for example, or provide the voice to an animated character (Voice actors can take home a copy of their animation). They can also try driving a train or working behind the busy reception desk of a hotel.

KidZania Tokyo's town, life in miniature

SEASONAL Rituals

Japan's four seasons are rich in diversity. Each season has its own unique scenery and cuisine, as well as its own customs and traditions that have continued since ancient times. Here is a selection of some of Japan's best-loved seasonal rituals.

お花見
おはなみ

o-hanami
cherry blossom viewing

spring

O-hanami is a popular Japanese spring pastime when sakura (cherry trees) are in full bloom, around late March to April. O-hanami can be celebrated by simply strolling through a park or having a picnic. At night o-hanami, turns into parties called enkai, with alcoholic drinks. Due to their popularity, people often reserve good viewing areas long before their enkai begins.
spring

ひな祭り
ひなまつり

hinamatsuri
doll festival

spring

Hinamatsuri is held on March 3 to celebrate the girls of the family. A platform with a red cloth is used to display ornamental Japanese dolls (hina-ningyo) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants and musicians from the Heian period. If the family forgets to pack the dolls away within three days, there is a superstition the daughter will have trouble finding a husband.
spring

お盆
おぼん

o-bon
the bon holiday and festival

summer

O-bon is a three-day period with ancient Buddhist origins, which honours the souls of the dead and is generally celebrated around August 15. Dancing festivals are common and families often get together to clean and tidy their family grave plots. The festival culminates with Toro Nagashi (the floating of lanterns) to symbolise the ancestral spirits' return to the spirit world.
summer

月見
つきみ

tsukimi
moon viewing

autumn

The night of September 13 is set aside by many people for the tradition of moon viewing. Families often make or buy dumplings (tsukimi-dango) and the moon viewing itself may be enjoyed outdoors or indoors through an open window sometimes decorated with pampas grass (susuki). The public holiday, Autumn Equinox Day (Shu-bun no hi) falls shortly afterwards, on September 23

しちごさん
七五三

shichi-go-san
“7-5-3” festival

autumn

A traditional event held on November 15 to celebrate the growth and wellbeing of three-and five-year-old boys and three-and seven-year-old girls. Girls dress in kimono and boys dress in hakama and haori (split skirt and a formal over-jacket) or a suit, and visit a shrine to pray and have photographs taken with their family.

じょやのかね
除夜の鐘

joya-no-kane
New Year's Eve bell toll

winter

Buddhist temples often ring their bells 108 consecutive times, starting at midnight on New Year's Eve. In Buddhist tradition, 108 represents the total number of earthly desires that tempt mankind. Each chime of the bell is the symbolic ridding of each desire so that the new year can begin with a pure and fresh mind.

初詣
はつもうで

hatsu-mode
New Year shrine/temple visit

winter

Shrines and temples are often crowded on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Hatsu-m¯ode simply refers to the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year, regardless of when it may occur. Many people also purchase good luck charms (o-mamori) for the coming year, and return old ones. (J)

Remember to pack your MANNERS

While foreign customs can seem daunting, learning about them is half the fun of visiting a foreign country. Here are some of the basic rules to help you make a good impression in Japan.

Meishi (business cards)

Meishi are an important business tool so make sure yours are clean, straight and presentable. You should always stand when exchanging meishi. Offer your meishi with both hands, facing towards the recipient so that they can read the details easily. If you receive a meishi, do not write on it, hurriedly put it in your pocket or disregard it.

Temples and Shrines

Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are places of worship so they should be treated with respect. Make a deep bow when you enter the gate (torii), and use the bamboo dippers at the nearby fountain to cleanse your hands and mouth. A small amount of money, called o-saisen, is given at most shrines and clapping, ringing a bell or saying a short prayer are also common.

Karaoke

Karaoke chain stores such as Big Echo and Jumbo Karaoke can be found near most train stations. There are plenty of English songs and groups can choose to sing together or solo. Let the person who chose the song sing solo unless they ask you to join in. Karaoke regulars will usually have a few "signature" songs they always perform. Don’t select someone else’s signature song yourself.

Ofuro (bathing)

Sento (public baths) and onsen (hot spring) bathing culture has a long history in Japan. Male and female baths are separated by curtains marked with different colours and kanji characters - 男 for male and 女 for female. No clothes or swimming costumes are permitted so place your personal belongings in the locker provided and cover yourself with a small towel (tenugui) when walking around. You must wash thoroughly before relaxing in the bath.
While foreign customs can seem daunting, learning about them is half the fun of visiting a foreign country. Here are some of the basic rules to help you make a good impression in Japan.

Tea Ceremony

The ritual of preparing and serving green tea in a formal setting is an art form that can take years to learn. The ceremony uses the finest tools and careful, ritualised movements to focus the mind wholly on the moment, and away from everyday life. Guests wear their best clothes and remove their shoes before kneeling on the tatami mats. Bows are exchanged between the host and the guest (in order of rank) and the bowl must be turned three times before drinking the tea. Conversation is limited to keep the mood tranquil.

Bowing

In Japan, bowing is an important ritual that conveys respect, acknowledgement and appreciation. The lower you bow, the more respect you show. Before you bow you should straighten your posture and bring your knees and heels together. Your hands should be beside your body or crossed in front of you. Look at the person and try to keep your back straight, bowing slowly and deliberately from the waist or the hips.

Visiting Someone’s House

Shoes are not permitted in most Japanese houses so slippers will often be provided in the entrance (genkan). Store your shoes neatly, facing towards the door. Bathrooms have their own designated communal slippers. Be sure to remove these slippers again before going back to the rest of the house. When leaving the house, place the slippers neatly together, facing away from the front door before putting your shoes back on.

Chopsticks

Chopsticks are to be respected as more than a food implement. Do not leave the chopsticks sticking out of the rice or pass food from chopstick to chopstick; both are ancient funeral rituals. Do not lick, chew or nibble the end of your chopsticks, or use them to move or point at anything. Do not spear your food with the chopsticks. When taking food from a communal plate, use serving spoons if provided, or use the bottom, fatter end of your chopsticks. Only rest chopsticks on a designated chopstick rest.