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.

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
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.