As Japan goes grey, toymakers design dolls for the elderly

APF via Yahoo ^ | February 23., 2005

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Sad.

[Yo-Yo]

Can't I just have my lap pillow?

[Jaysun]

Those Japanese just get crazier and crazier don't they?

[silent_jonny]

Another toymaker, Bandai, in November 1999 launched the Primopuel doll which is meant to resemble a five-year-old boy who needs the same sort of attention, asking to be hugged and entertained.

Wonder if Michael Jackson knew about these?

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

If Michael Jackson had known about them, he could have spared himself a heap of trouble.

[glock rocks]

Sad? I think it's brilliant.

I want a biga$$ed tricycle and some 3 foot high tonka trucks when I get old.

[FreeManWhoCan]

Can they make a Kagome dolls? (From Inuyasha!)

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Uh....sure! Why not?

[LongElegantLegs]

Creepy.

[Shqipo]

First diapers, now dolls... We really do go full circle in life.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Those Japanese just get crazier and crazier don't they?

Yes. It's amazing that a society that can be so far-sighted in some ways can also become so short-sighted, if not blind, in others.

[texasflower]

Lots of elderly people do take to dolls very well.

But most of these are people with dementia that think the dolls are real babies.

This thing would confuse and frustrate the hell out of them.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

And they would have to be even more frustrating to those still possessing their mental faculties and are given the dolls as a substitute for a real relationship with their children and grandchildren (if the latter exist.)

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Well, now that I've had a look at the lad -- it's too bad he wasn't around when the wife and I started having kids. We could have gotten three of the dolls and been spared 2 a.m. feedings (unless we programmed them to wake up then) colic, toilet training, etc., not to mention college tuition.

[texasflower]

Excellent point. That is such a sad thing, as you said in your first post.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Can't I just have my lap pillow?

Note to Japanese guy in the photo: Find a "lap pillow" that has the top half attached, but make sure that it's made out of organic materials (flesh and blood is the best), and get to the business of making baby-sans, so your country might have a fighting chance of surviving your own dimwitted generation.

[texasflower]

Here's the baby doll. It sure could be cuter in my opinion. I don't like it.

[MeanWestTexan]

"I want a biga$$ed tricycle and some 3 foot high tonka trucks when I get old."

I saw a Law & Order SVU about a guy who was just like that.

[LongElegantLegs]

Yeah, I'm right in the middle of the baby stage; However, our efforts are worthwhile because they will eventually move out, get a job, and change our diapers when we get old enough to think spending $5,600 on a fake child would be fun! B^P

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Can they make a "Talking Liberal Doll", dressed in a French beret and Birkenstocks (and presumably additional appropriate costume) which comes out with liberal talking points at preset intervals? After enduring whatever length rant and/or abuse you care to hurl (perhaps literally) at it in reply, it then bows respectfully and says obsequiously, "I apologize humbly, Master San, you are so wise and good and I am so stupid and evil."