Pythagorus Switch
Posted: September 13, 2009 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Japan, Japanese | 4 Comments »A few times already, I’ve brought up a certain TV show from Japan’s NHK channel my two year old daughter likes to watch called nihongo de asobo, which looks at traditional Japanese literature and songs in a new, artistic light. Another show that follows right after this is the famous Pitagora Suicchi (ピタゴラスイッチ), which looks complements the previous show by exploring modern subjects like science, technology and exercise. The name of the show just means “Pythagoras Switch”, where ‘switch’ I think means like a button or switchboard on a machine.
One of the features of the show is the opening theme, where each episode is a different Rube-Goldberg machine, designed to start the show. Someone made a good video compilation here. It’s a bit long, but worth the visit.
Another thing I like on the show is アリゴリスム行進 (arigo risumu kōshin) where two comedians march together. You can see a photo of them on the show’s website, but sadly I couldn’t find a good clip. What’s so cool is that they march together in synchronization through a bunch of steps. One guy is one step behind the other guy, so if one person just does it, it makes no sense, but when they do it together, the timing is just really fun to watch. If I find a clip, I will definitely pass it along.
I also like the お父さんスイッチ (Dad switchboard) where children get to control their dads through a special “switchboard”. They always teach kids five new words based on the first five letters of the alphabet a, i, u, e, o.1 Sadly, as a student of Japanese, I have to look up these words later in the dictionary, even though I am not a child. I still have much to learn. 
Anyways, check out the video compilation. Amazing what good TV people can find for children these days. Me? I watched a lot of 1980′s cartoons with overt product placements and such. :-p
Collect them all!
1 No relation to English alphabet. This is how it’s organized in Japanese kana.
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
The video compilation is truly amazing. Just thinking them up, and then doing all the trials and measurements etc. There are a lot of everyday objects used, including some things like the kendama toy that is common in Japan but may not be so familiar elsewhere. I suppose a lot of kids (or families) must be inspired to dream up their own–that sounds like the kind of thing a TV company might make into a contest show. Also, I can’t help thinking about the implications for factory design, automated space exploration and industrialization…it just goes on and on.
JL
I am very familiar with Pythagoras Switch as my children also watch this show.
There used to be a lot of Clips on YouTube but NHK got them taken down.
Another element of アルゴリズムたいそう that I liked was that they would do it with different groups of people. The Ninja one is my favourite. But you can see Coastgaurds
or
Vienna Boys Choir
http://kine.cyworld.vn/detail/12000787863/1
I’ve seen a Japanese show that has huge size versions of the contraptions. The episode I saw was a competition to cook and serve ramen in as big and outlandish fashion as possible.
I’m always looking for Pitakora suichi on DVD but so far only the title sequences have made it. It’s a great little 15min show.
Hi guys, sorry for the late replies. In the middle of moving back to the US, so time is limited here:
Johnl Yeah, I am really impressed with some of the clever applications of everyday household objects. Just how it all comes together so seamlessly is amazing. I hope they’re paid well.
Tornadoes28 Ha, ha, ha. I know of other couples both in Ireland and back in the US that watched this with their kids (all Japan-Western intermarriages). Just too good to pass up.
ロバート Yeah, I wish they’d put out DVDs too, which is a shame. I don’t think they realize the potential market they have. Thanks for the links by the way. Great job finding them.