Junji Ouchi says show grew out of tradition of sending toddlers off on their own to do simple but challenging tasks
The tasks set in the programme reflect errands Japanese children carry out in real-life, although for every rural family that is happy to send their four-year-old to the corner shop is another in Tokyo that would shudder at the thought of exposing their offspring to the potential dangers lying in wait in busy urban streets.
Ouchi, who is still the programme’s executive director, said he was inspired by the “widely accepted” practice among Japanese parents of asking their children to run errands alone. The Nippon TV series, a staple of Japanese television since it first aired as Hajimete no Otsukai in 1991, has acquired a cast of thousands of families.
The children are the undisputed stars of the show, thanks both to their successes and their capacity for the unpredictable – a wrong turn, an impromptu conversation with a “stranger” or an overly ponderous visit to the shops. “Even children we expect to come home quickly start doing something else that we find astonishing,” Ouchi says. “Sometimes their errand ends up taking quite a long time.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'I can show myself compassion': How 28-year-old Alex Blain faced death on his termsAfter 19 rounds of chemotherapy for terminal cancer, Alex applied for help to end his life. He hoped his experience with assisted dying helps others who need to access the service.
Read more »
This year’s 13 new Rich Listers include a 25-year-old uni dropoutThere’s a new wave of wealth entering the Rich List. Of the 13 new entrants, seven are aged 40 or under.
Read more »
How viral video of a decades-old arrest spawned racing’s new cult heroDemocracy Manifest was the term used by an Australian man as he was thrown into a police vehicle in the 1990s. But the horse’s form, and colourful race calls, are creating a cult hero.
Read more »
Father says he pushed for five-year-old Hiyaan Kapil to remain in hospital before tragic deathThe grieving father of five-year-old Hiyaan Kapil said he pushed for his son to remain in hospital before his death just hours later.
Read more »
Father says he pushed for five-year-old Hiyaan Kapil to remain in hospital before tragic deathThe grieving father of five-year-old Hiyaan Kapil said he pushed for his son to remain in hospital before his death just hours later.
Read more »