PythagoraSwitch

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PythagoraSwitch (ピタゴラスイッチ, Pitagora Suitchi^?), airing on NHK since 2002, is a Japanese educational television program where children's "way of thinking" is augmented under the supervision of Masahiko Satō (佐藤雅彦, Masahiko Satō^?) and Masumi Uchino (内野真澄, Masumi Uchino^?).

The Rube Goldberg devices that appear during the beginning, ending, and between each corner (segment) are called Pythagorean Device (ピタゴラ装置, Pitagora Sōchi^?) in the program. The main focus of the program is a puppet show, but the subject is mainly advanced by the small corners. World phenomena, principles, characteristics, and the like are introduced in an entertaining way. As a feature of the show "Pitagora Suitchi" is sung as an eye catch for each important point.

Dankichi Kuruma (車だん吉, Dankichi Kuruma^?), Jun Inoue (井上順, Jun Inoue^?), Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (草彅剛, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi^?), et al are voice actors who perform and call out the topics.

Often Switch (スイッチ, Suitchi^?) and Mechanism (しくみ, Shikumi^?) appear on the show to mainly form new interests and learn new information.

At the 30th Japan Prize International Educational Program Contest, episode 25 Let's Look at It Another Way, won top prize (the Prime Minister's award) of the Early Education category. [1] At Prix Jeunesse 2004 in Munich it won top prize in the age 6 and below non-fiction category. [2]

Outside Japan, NHK World Premium broadcasts PythagoraSwitch Mini. In Brazil, TV Cultura is broadcasting it with the title Viva Pitágoras.

[edit] Corners

Today's Topic
- Pita (ピタ, Pita^?) - Mai Hoshikawa (星河舞, Mai Hoshikawa^?) (formerly Miwa Matsumoto)
- Gora (ゴラ, Gora^?) - Tomohiro Nishimura (西村朋紘, Tomohiro Nishimura^?)
- Sū (スー, Sū^?) - Yūji Ueda (うえだゆうじ/上田祐司, Yūji Ueda^?)
- Mr. Encyclopedia (百科おじさん, Hyakka-ojisan^?) - Akira Nagoya (名古屋章, Akira Nagoya^?) then Kiyoshi Kawakubo (川久保潔, Kiyoshi Kawakubo^?) then Dankichi Kuruma
- TV John (TeleviJohn) (テレビのジョン, Terebi no Jon^?) - Jun Inoue
- Narrator - Akira Tokuda (徳田章, Akira Tokuda^?)

Mr. Encyclopedia explains the ways of the world to Pita and Gora. Mr. Encyclopedia says "The details are written on my page X," but Pita and Gora say, "We're children so we can't read!" Then TV John ends up explaining the story on his screen. When Suu appears carrying something with him, it's always pointless.

Algorithm Exercises/Arugorizumu Taiso - The comedy group Itsumo Kokokara (いつもここから, Itsumo Kokokara^?)

The 2 man team performs exercises.

Algorithm March/Arugorizumu Koushin - Itsumo Kokokara

The exercises from Algorithm Exercises are developed. Lines of more than 2 people are formed, and they begin moving canon style one at a time. The movements of the first and last person become connected.

Father Switch (Father Switch 2 in 2003, Father Switch and Grandpa Switch too after 2003)
- How to make Father Switch - sung by Toshiaki Chiku (知久寿焼, Toshiaki Chiku^?) (originally by Tama (たま, Tama^?))

The children push a switch which has a 5 character column from the Japanese syllabary, and Father makes a corresponding move.

What are you doing, Mister? - performed by Kentaro Kobayashi (小林賢太郎, Kentaro Kobayashi^?) of Ramens (ラーメンズ, Ramens^?), and others
Framy - voiced by Jun Inoue

The main character, Framy, is transparent dog comprised of a square frame. The other characters are comprised of simple figures as well but aren't transparent.

10 sticks Anime - voiced by Jin Katagiri (片桐仁, Jin Katagiri^?) of Ramens, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa (荒川良々, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa^?), Kōen Kondō (近藤公園, Kōen Kondō^?), Takahiro Hirano (平野貴大, Takahiro Hirano^?)

10 sticks combine and transform into many different things.

Snap Snap Anime - voiced by Tsuyoshi Kusanagi

A stick is bent into various forms with a snap.

Sugar Cube Anime
Today's Switch - narrated by Akira Tokuda

A Rube Goldberg machine is put into motion and set to music, narrating the movements of the machine.

Today's Robot - narrated by Akira Tokuda

Various robots (mainly industrial robots) are introduced.

What's After?
What is the Dot Doing?

A motion capture of just the movement of a marker is displayed.

What is the Person Doing? - sung by Toshiaki Chiku

A person and his or her actions are outlined by moving lights; the person's original appearance and background are then restored to show what he or she is doing.

Your Own Rules - narrated by Ittoku Kishibe (岸部一徳, Ittoku Kishibe^?)

Children dubiously watch an adult under the influence of eccentric rules.

Lets Try to Add - sung by Hidetoshi Sakurai (桜井秀俊, Hidetoshi Sakurai^?) of Magokoro Brothers (真心ブラザーズ, Magokoro Brothers^?)
Running Letters - narrated by Ittoku Kishibe