Big Bird in Japan

Sesame Street's Big Bird In Japan is a nice introduction to Japanese language and culture for kids.  Big Bird and Barkley the Dog are going to go on a bus tour in Tokyo.  They are so busy greeting Japanese people on the street by saying "Ohio" that they end up missing the bus.  Big Bird has difficulty ordering Japanese food and eating with chopsticks in a Japanese restaurant.  Afterwards, he feels sad, lost, and homesick.  

A Japanese woman suddenly appears and helps them out by driving them around, having them stay with her friends, and accompanying them by train to Kyoto to catch their flight home.  Along the way, Big Bird learns about the Japanese customs of bowing to show respect and removing shoes to enter a household.  He also learns a few Japanese words (good morning, 123, please, thank you, and good bye) in a cute little song and watches a play about the Bamboo Princess, performed by adorable Japanese school children.  In the end, we find out why his Japanese friend is also feeling so sad. 

Warning:  there are a few seconds of scary images of Japanese statues who are protecting a shrine that scared the pants off my 3-year-old.  Why do they have to do that?!  Otherwise, it's a cute movie. {tobuy}