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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/4, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kid Banking, Grown-Up Style

Continuing with the story about our visit to KidZania in Nishinomiya, Japan the other day, where Anthony started his play by working as a gas-station attendant. After working at the gas station, he wanted to be on the opposite end of the experience, as a driver. To drive in KidZania involves renting a car, but to do that you have to have money (which he now did, thanks to his gas-station pay) and a driver license, which he did not have.

To get a driver license, you have to attend driving school (which itself has a cost), but he found the school booked up solid for a while, so he decided to take the time to get some banking done.

The KidZania banking experience is exceedingly realistic.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 29 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waiting For a Teller

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Finally His Turn
teller presents dish for the customer to place paperwork or whatnot

There's not a single thing in the picture above that gives it away as fake. Every detail of everything you see in the picture above (and the two below), including the teller mannerisms and even facial expressions, is 100% authentic. If I were to see these pictures out of context, I wouldn't believe they're fake (although unlike the kids, I wouldn't think the stack of cash behind the glass is real.... I'd think it's some sort of promotional display). Without question this was the most realistic experience of the day.

The bank, by the way – Sumitomo Mitsui – has its roots back to 1683. Fumie's had an account there since she was a kid (though not at the KidZania branch 🙂 ). According to Wikipedia, it's the 8th largest bank in the world.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — ¹/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Filling Out a Form
or something

When we arrived at KidZania, Anthony received a traveler's check for 50 KidZo (“KidZo” being the monetary unit in KidZania). Here at the bank, he opened an account in his name and deposited it, receiving a wallet and an ATM card. When I was a kid you got a toaster or some steak knives when you opened a bank account; KidZania seems to be more practical.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 50 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waiting

Once he got out, he wanted his money as cash, not realizing that he could have gotten it from the teller. So, ATM card in hand, off to get some cash....

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 32 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Real ATM
with kid-friendly programming and a booster step

The ATM was quite real, but the software was highly customized for KidZania. All the writing was at the first-grade level (all kanji had furigana), and the transactions were limited to withdrawals and balance inquiries. Also, when entering the PIN, any four digits will do 🙂 .

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 66 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/4, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony's Account Options
that's his name on the second line of text, in blue

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 45 mm — ¹/100 sec, f/4, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cash, Baby!

Flush with cash, he was then off on his next adventure.

Continued here...