ピタゴラスイッチ

ピタゴラスイッチ (English: PythagoraSwitch), is a 10-minute (formerly 15-minute) Japanese educational television program, for children aged 4 to 6, that has been aired by NHK since April 9, 2002. It encourages augmenting children's "way of thinking". Episodes are still being produced to this day.

During the beginning and ending of each episode, and between each segment, there are Pythagorean Devices (ピタゴラ装置, Pitagora Sōchi). A pythagorean device is the Japanese equivalent for an American Rube Goldberg machine. The program contains a puppet show as the first segment, then the second half of the program is comprised of either animated or live action segments devoted to a specific topic.

A five-minute format called ピタゴラスイッチミニ (English: PythagoraSwitch mini) is also available, these are solely comprised of the shorter segments, and usually feature none of the puppetry.

International versions

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