How Cute! Part 1

Through my travels I've come to realize something about the US.  We like things big.  We like big hamburgers.  We like big cars.  Because our cars huge, our roads are wide. When we want to build something, we get in there with the biggest heavy equipment that'll fit, and we get 'er done.  Look out trees and power lines; the excavator has come.

When I think of track-hoes and bulldozers, I picture big yellow behemoths, carving up the earth with ease. In my mind, there is something inherently manly about construction equipment and that should be reflected both in its size and in its color.  The same machismo doesn't apply in Japan.  For example:

Is that a construction site or playground equipment?  I feel like that thing might get bogged down trying to bulldoze a sandcastle.  And if you think the turquoise is bad, you should see all of the pastel purple equipment.  It must be more like working in an Easter egg, than working in a tank.  I can guarantee no one is going to weld armor on this bad boy and go on a rampage through downtown Granby.

But at least cranes have to be large right?  I mean, they have to lift huge loads high up into the sky.

Doesn't the little guy look kind of sad?  Maybe he is like Thomas the train.  He wants to grow up to be a big crane.  Maybe some day he can lift heavy things like trusses or shipping containers.  For now he has to be content with lifting two-by-fours and giving atomic wedgies.

Sure, I know I shouldn't make fun.  And to be fair, I can think of one practical application for this mini-crane.  Mom could keep it in her kitchen to reach things on the top shelf.  It would be perfect.  She could park it under the microwave when she wasn't using it.