I like cute things, which is probably why Japan and I get along so well. Cutesy key chains, cell phone charms, little stuffed trinkets, gadgets that eventually clutter the home: they all bring me a tiny bit of joy when I pile them up like a kid after a Halloween haul.
Like a campy fifties song, and then I saw him:

Cue the roaring motorcycle music, the summer nights, the woah-ah-ohs. At a local gaming/amusement place, this little critter – aptly named Pengu – was the new found object of my cuteness obsession. He moves his little feet back and fort and walk around, battery charged, waving an every present battle to make the world cuter.
The obstacle? He had to be obtained via a undeniably rigged claw with a weak left pincher for 200 Y a try [a little more than 2 USD]. These games drive me insane. They look easy, you are always SO close, and yet, you will not win. But, you were SO CLOSE, driving you to pump quarters [or in this case yen] like a waterhose onto a garden. Understandably, I was sad when I saw my little friend encased in plexiglass.
One try. I’ll try once. I slipped 300 Y in for 2 tries. Already, I’m being suckered. I feel it. The first try was a complete fail. Of course, it takes a try to figure out how the hook system works. The second try, I nail him. The hook wraps perfectly, and comes up…empty. Sadness. I fell for it again. I knew it would happen and yet I gave my 300 Y. Pengu, alas, would not be mine.
My face must have shown a great sadness, as one of the cute red aproned workers came over, opened the cabinet and readjusted the little critter. She smiled and closed the door. Not again, I thought. Don’t do it. Yet, my hand had already moved to give my money up yet again. I positioned the hook and voila!
Pengu sits beside me as I type this post:

Later that evening, I saw 4 little Japanese girls with Carebears obtained from the impossible hooks, grinning and skipping through the floor. I had seen the same worker standing by the machine as they were playing. One generous amusement employee made 5 little peoples days. Now, off to watch Pengu waddle around the apartment in glee.












