Go Tokyo Your Experience
Do you remember, have you ever experienced the fun of “talking to a fan”? This game was essentially a summer staple for children in Japan last century, and it even appeared in many classic anime. Sounds passing through the rapidly spinning blades of the fan become intermittent, producing strange noises like those of aliens.
Therefore, friends were always keen to talk to the fan, immersing themselves in this wonderful voice-altering experience. However, as time has passed, recent surveys show that this seemingly simple yet fun game has gradually disappeared from the sight of modern children. What exactly has happened? Let’s explore the reasons behind it together.
The Tokyo TV variety show “Unbelievable ∞ World” focuses on the differences between eras and generations, specifically exploring the phenomenon of “talking to a fan.”
In the show, many Japanese people from past eras recall that whenever they saw a fan, they couldn’t help but let out a long sound of “ah～～,” with some older men even imitating aliens saying, “We are aliens.”
This action brings not only auditory pleasure but also a unique cultural experience. This way of playing was an important pastime for many Japanese children in the summer.
In many Japanese animated works, we can also see similar scenarios. For example, in the popular “Lucky Star,” there is a classic scene where characters talk to a electric fan.
However, the experiment of the program showed that when modern children are asked about this little game, they all look confused and have no understanding of the concept at all.
Surprisingly, this generational gap is not only due to the changes in times but also involves advancements in technology.
The program particularly consulted audio expert Suzuki So, who answered: This difference is largely related to the technological improvements in electric fans. The technology of modern electric fans has significantly increased, the number of blades has increased, and the rotation speed has accelerated, which makes the sound vibration effect less pronounced.
Early electric fans had fewer blades and slower rotation speeds, which made the sound vibrations more pronounced and the pitch variations more interesting.
However, the modern electric fan, having evolved technologically, while being elegant and efficient in performance, has made the magical feeling of its sound feel thin.
Since the development of technology has affected the experience of games, it may also have caused modern children to lose this simple yet joyful pleasure. The pitch-changing effect of sound passing through the blades is no longer as pronounced as it was in the past, and this may be one of the reasons why children are no longer keen on this kind of play.
As this technology evolves, those childhood memories that once belonged only to summer have quietly remained in a corner of the past. Sometimes, it makes one involuntarily reminisce about the days when happiness was created with simple things.
I couldn’t help but try to see if I could regain that lost joy in modern appliances. In any case, testing it out with the electric fan at home might awaken certain precious memories.
