"Taro is Family" Giant Cricket Tasting Event Canceled Due to Children's Tears. SDGs Education Reaches Unexpected Conclusion

The "Giant Cricket Breeding" program recommended by the Ministry of Education has developed into unexpected emotional dramas in households nationwide. After spending summer vacation together, children have formed bonds with their now-pet crickets, sobbing "We can't eat Taro" while boycotting tasting events. Some households report crickets have even taken up residence on TV remote controls.

2025-08-18

Translations: JA

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"Taro is Family" Giant Cricket Tasting Event Canceled Due to Children's Tears. SDGs Education Reaches Unexpected Conclusion

The “Giant Cricket Breeding” program recommended by the Ministry of Education has developed into unexpected emotional dramas in households nationwide. After spending summer vacation together, children have formed bonds with their now-pet crickets, sobbing “We can’t eat Taro” while boycotting tasting events. Some households report crickets have even taken up residence on TV remote controls.

The brown warriors who were supposed to shoulder Earth’s future and food security now reign as kings of children’s bedrooms. It all began with the “Summer Vacation SDGs Challenge! Giant Cricket Breeding & Observation Kit” distributed by the Ministry of Education to elementary schools nationwide under the noble ideal of “learning about sustainable society and the cycle of life.”

The initial plan was perfect. Students would breed and observe giant crickets as potential future protein sources during summer vacation, submitting growth records as independent research projects. After the break, they would cook and taste the crickets they had raised themselves, learning the value of “receiving life” through this grand educational program.

However, the plan fell apart from the start. Children instantly formed attachments to these impressive insects that grow up to 7 centimeters long. “Taro” of the Suzuki family, “Jumpy” of the Sato family, “Gichi-o” of the Takahashi family - each household gave their crickets unique names, becoming infatuated with how “cute” they looked begging for cucumber treats. Some children were even spotted taking their caged crickets for walks under the summer sun.

On the fateful day of the tasting event, classrooms nationwide were engulfed in chaos. “Taro is like my little brother!” “Deep-frying Jumpy is the devil’s work!” As teachers could only stand helplessly before children tearfully refusing to cook, the classroom atmosphere plummeted to sub-zero temperatures in stark contrast to the rising oil temperature in the frying pans.

Various experts have voiced opinions about this situation. Professor Junpei Inukai of Todo University (Comparative Animal Psychology) declared it “an inevitable outcome.” “It’s psychologically extremely difficult to recognize something you’ve named and communicated with as prey. This isn’t education; it’s nothing more than a cruel show of turning pets into food,” he pointed out the fundamental flaw in the plan.

Meanwhile, the Japan Future Food Promotion Organization (J-FPA) issued a statement calling the situation “extremely regrettable.” “When food crisis is looming, abandoning educational opportunities for sentimental reasons is a national loss. This is a defeat of food education for future generations,” they harshly criticized the children’s actions.

Thus, the grand SDGs education project bowed before the pure tears of children. The crickets that were supposed to become future protein sources have now established their status as “family.” Some households have decided on “lifetime care,” and pet shops report that “cricket hammocks” and “soundproof mini-shelters” are flying off the shelves.

The heroes who were supposed to solve Earth’s food problems might be waiting for their owners’ return in the corner of the Yamada family sofa tonight. The rustling of wings seems to ironically play out the distance between SDGs ideals and reality.

Stakeholder Comments

Suzuki Taro (Giant Cricket): “(Chirp chirp…) Family is warm. The remote control buttons feel nice to press too”
Ministry of Education Official: “I’d like to positively interpret that the original goal of learning the value of life has been achieved in a sense. Though in a different form than expected”
Suzuki Family’s Eldest Son (4th Grade): “Taro is like a little brother. His poop smells, but I’ll never eat him!”
Parent (Anonymous): “I never expected summer homework to come with monthly food costs… SDGs are expensive, aren’t they?”
Professor Junpei Inukai (Comparative Animal Psychology): “Give something a name and you’ll grow attached. What parent would name their hamster ‘Ham Cutlet’?”
Japan Future Food Promotion Organization Director: “Deplorable. How many African children do you think could be saved with that single tear!”
Pet Shop Manager: “We’re flooded with inquiries about cricket leashes. Clothes next, perhaps?”
School Lunch Center Cook: “Deep-fried, soy sauce stir-fry, ajillo… 48 recipes I planned have gone to waste”
TV Remote Control: “Lately, my back has become his permanent spot. He has channel control. But it’s kind of warm”
The Concept of SDGs Itself: “I’m seriously considering adding ‘Rights of Homework-Turned-Pets’ as my 18th goal”