Eric Takabayashi wrote:
> "John W." wrote:
>
> > I do find Japanese
> > playgrounds to be somewhat eerie in that usually children are
absent.
> > But, then, the same can said for some parks near my home in
Nashville.
>
> Depends if the playground has things to keep people's interest. While
house hunting I have seen
> developments with their own playgrounds or parks, but I don't see
people there, because they
> almost all suck. A slide and swings maybe, and no grass. Or maybe
grass and nothing else. Dumb. I
> might have a barbecue or set up a tent in such a place, but I
wouldn't play there if there were
> someplace better.

I'd agree with that. But I wonder if kids these days are interested in
going to parks; my son is, but that's because I am and I refuse to let
him watch TV all the time. The beautiful park behind Himeji Castle is
almost always deserted, or has only a handful of kids; unless it's
fallen into disrepair in the last couple of years it's one of the best
parks I've seen anywhere (though it could use some improvements).
John W.