Japan's Shougaku Ichinensei mag bundles "finger piano" for kids

Face it, Japan is just cooler than you are. You have a job and a car, Japan? Japan has finger pianos bundled as freebies with manga-centric magazines for 1st graders. You lose. And by "finger piano" we really mean finger piano. Check out the video after the break for a better idea, but basically you mount a sensor onto each finger and plunk away -- the circuit bending potential is immense.

[Mike @ Mar 14th 2008 10:30PM]

My 16 month old would think that is lame.

[Taylor @ Mar 15th 2008 2:12AM]

Read the article:
"FIRST GRADERS"

16 month olds are entertained by cardboard boxes

[webon @ Mar 14th 2008 10:39PM]

I've noticed that here in Japan kids get a really good musical education, In my case I couldnt know between a soprano and a baritone

[Tiptup300 @ Mar 14th 2008 11:44PM]

Mind your language, this is engadget!

[HOOPER @ Mar 14th 2008 10:56PM]

Cool, but it like barely worked.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 14th 2008 11:04PM]

Yeah, because the buttons may be too stiff. Look at it, the kid was drumming his fingers on the table and it sounds off barely.

[Rob @ Mar 14th 2008 11:21PM]

I bought a $6.95 version of this about 11 years ago. I'll YouTube it if anyone thinks it's important -- I think I know where I can find it.

[Wesley @ Mar 14th 2008 11:31PM]

It's Jordan Rudess' new tool for rocking out!

[Matthew @ Mar 14th 2008 11:52PM]

Vernor Vinge ftw.

[Chris @ Mar 14th 2008 11:56PM]

Sorry for the irrelevant post but when I was going to change my picture it asked me for my passwork, I put in the one I always do to enter a comment but it won't work and there's not forgot password button, what should I do? THANKS

[Chris @ Mar 14th 2008 11:57PM]

edit: password

[UKNigel @ Mar 15th 2008 12:21AM]

Did you try reversing the polarity of the flux capacitor?

[webon @ Mar 15th 2008 2:03AM]

but why would you change Gadgie??

[Tired_ @ Mar 15th 2008 1:54AM]

Can I plug it into my Wiimote to play Power Glove games on the VC?

[phrogg @ Mar 15th 2008 2:10AM]

I would so totally buy that.

Like i bought the P5 glove a few years back.

...boy, was that a mistake.

[kawaiipikachu @ Mar 15th 2008 8:05PM]

Wii Remote not Wiimote .
Please get an education :(

[Simon @ Mar 15th 2008 2:08AM]

Wow, the crap you get with magazines got more technical within the last 20 years. Who'ld have thought?

I hope, in a few years, when my son will be six or so, they'll bundle even more advanced crap. Mobiles, Laptops and such. Though, by then I'll probably have bought him some low end but good quality gear anyway.

[chachi8 @ Mar 15th 2008 3:21AM]

"You have a job and a car, Japan?"

Huh?

[Brentt @ Mar 15th 2008 6:46AM]

You have a job and a car. [what does] Japan [have]?

[stephen @ Mar 15th 2008 6:13AM]

this is such a rip off, it was on american inventer last week.

[Dave @ Mar 15th 2008 9:53AM]

Hey, I just saw that in a window display and wondered where I could get one. I'll have to go hunt one down before I head back to the US. Thanks, Engadget!

[Tyler @ Mar 15th 2008 9:59AM]

Is it just me, or did that thing barely even function?

[lawine @ Mar 15th 2008 10:21AM]

why dont translate Shougaku Ichinensei into english

[Michael B @ Mar 15th 2008 12:16PM]

Primary school, firstgrader

[Michael B @ Mar 15th 2008 12:23PM]

And the reason it isn't translated is that it's actually the name of a magazine.

[PiNPOiNT @ Mar 15th 2008 11:15AM]

There was a guy in season 2 of "American Inventor" who was laughed off the stage by the judges when he demonstrated the idea of such a glove. He was a bit of a space cadet and that's probably why, but again it just shows where america and japan are different in the way they think. eg: hello kitty.

[jonathan.b.barbato @ Mar 15th 2008 12:13PM]

Which System Lord lost their Ribbon Device?...

[coquivschupacabra @ Mar 16th 2008 12:59AM]

Shougaku = Elementary School
Ichinenesei = First year student

First Grade in the U.S.

[Ray @ Mar 16th 2008 1:08PM]

I had something like this when I was a kid. It was all gray and only played 5 sounds though.

[Michael @ Mar 17th 2008 8:37PM]

The Japanese also make vibrators that look pretty much exactly like that "piano."

Woe be to the first person to confuse the two.