

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Taking The Dreaded Driver's License Test
This is #5 in a series on our visit to KidZania in Nishinomiya, Japan, where Anthony's day so far has consisted of working as a gas-station attendant, getting some banking done, and a short stint as construction worker.
Anthony stopped by the driving school again, and found that the wait was shorter this time, so he decided to get his license. This, in turn, would allow him to rent a car, which then would allow him his ultimate goal of actually driving one (as seen in the gas-station post). It wouldn't be the first time he's driven (he drove a go-cart once last year), but it's still a rare chance.


Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
KidZania Driving School

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Classroom Instruction
the side facing the kids has information on road signs

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Paying Close Attention
I thought he looked bored, but when I asked later, he said it was difficult and was trying to concentrate

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Written Test

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sitting for the License Photograph

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/250 sec, f/5, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
License-Making Software

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Checking Out His Newly-Minted Driver's License
Just as he was inspecting his new license, some guy walked right in front of me and hovered there, and so I missed the shot when a look of glee overcame Anthony's face and he gave a big toothy grin and an emphatic thumbs-up sign. Sigh.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Showing His New License
a bit subdued by now, but still happy

We have to renew Anthony's passport this week, and so yesterday I took a portrait shot for it, but I realize now that I could have just scanned and printed this photo! Coincidentally, he's even wearing the same shirt in the photo I took yesterday as the one here. Hmmm.....
Continued here...
It’s pretty funny they had to take a test first. So at the end of the day do they need to file taxes? q;o)
I’m really, really enjoying this series – hope that’s not all there is of it.
Thanks for this, Jeffrey. Very timely. We were just looking at Kidzania info yesterday and talking about going this summer. Your photos are great. I’m going to show Greg when he gets home.
In that traffic light picture in the test, did blue mean go?
Yeah, it’s a very weird thing about Japanese culture that though their concepts for “green” and “blue” match the rest of the human race, the one odd exception are traffic lights. A green-as-a-spring-bean “go” light is called “blue”. Anything else that exact same shade is called “green”. It’s so ingrained that I’ve never met a Japanese person who even considered that this was odd, much less even noticed the disconnect. However, it appears that the Driving School did notice the disconnect, and made the graphic to match the language, not the reality. —Jeffy
This seems like such a cute and interesting place!