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PythagoraSwitch (From Wikipedia)

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 Souchi?) 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 Shikumi (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. At Prix Jeunesse 2004 in Munich it won top prize in the age 6 and below non-fiction category.

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