
Last week, we shared a rather unusual ad from Ryugin, an Okinawa-based bank whose approach to selling loans involves robots, doe-eyed anime girls and more pink hearts than you can shake a stick at. As it turns out, this same banking corporation has quite the eye for attention-grabbing ads, as we’ve just discovered an older TV spot from the same company, titled Children and Philosophy, which poses a series of mostly abstract questions to a group of elementary school kids.
Responding to questions about everything from love and war to what it means to be free, the kids’ answers are at once refreshing, thought-provoking, and painfully sweet, to the point that we’re starting to wonder if they’re the ones who ought to be in charge of the world. Full video after the jump.
Before we look at the video, let’s take a quick look at some of the questions the video’s makers put to their bright-eyed panel.
Some are fairly straightforward, but to young minds might prove tricky to answer accurately:
▼ “What are children?”
▼ “What are adults?”
▼ “What is money?”
Then there are some seriously abstract questions fired their way which even we might struggle to define:
▼ “Was is happiness?”
▼ “What does is mean to live?”
In many ways, though, we could almost skip the kids’ answers entirely and simply look at the expressions on their faces while they consider the questions. Compare, for example, the look on this little girl’s face when asked to describe war (top) with the one she wears when she talks about love (bottom):
If that doesn’t tell you something about what’s most important in life, I don’t know what will.
Here’s the video in full, complete with English subtitles. It’s OK if you get a little bit blurry-eyed towards the end. I totally didn’t, but you know…
For more videos in this series, along with the original Japanese-only version of the above video, check out Ryugin’s channel on YouTube.
Source/screenshots: YouTube – Ryuginkousiki







You can raise your own Pikachu from a furball with this adorable new plushie line from Japan
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Japanese group to hold fashion show of colostomy bags and other stoma equipment in Paris
Beautiful Studio Ghibli photo frames let you put yourself in the worlds of Totoro and Kiki【Pics】
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Japanese avoiding domestic travel as foreign tourists increase, possibly creating vicious cycle
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 most difficult Japanese tongue twisters (with videos!) 【Weird Top Five】
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Leave a Reply