Netflix viewers baffled by Japanese show 'Old Enough' which sends toddlers on solo errands

A still from new Japanese reality show Old Enough (Netflix)
Old Enough sees toddlers out and about solo. (Netflix)

Netflix viewers are struggling to get their heads around a Japanese series which sends toddlers out on solo errands and has left people in tears at the emotion of it.

Old Enough is known as My First Errand in Japan and has long been a popular TV fixture, airing two three-hour shows every year for the last 30 years on Nippon.

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It sees carefully-selected children aged between two and six out to do familiar errands like going to the shops or the market - but for the first time ever, they will complete the journey alone.

Their parents watch from hidden locations and a narrator jokes about their successes and failures, which have been cut down to 10-to-15-minute episodes for Netflix in the UK.

One viewer tweeted: "There is a show on Netflix from Japan that's episodes less than ten minutes of kids and toddlers doing errands. The first episode is a two year old walking to the store by himself and buying stuff. It's called Old Enough and I am baffled."

Someone else agreed: "I found the show Old Enough on Netflix and it is the best freaking rabbit hole. I don’t even know where I am anymore."

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Another viewer added: "Absolutely obsessed with Old Enough on Netflix. Each 10-minute episode features a tiny Japanese child tasked with a solo errand and I am EXTREMELY INVESTED in whether this 4-year-old can remember to buy udon *and* sweet potato *and* octopus *and* shrimp at the market."

The Netflix logo (Credit: Netflix)
The long-running Japanese show has recently been added to Netflix. (Netflix)

The unusual sight of small children out on their own was stressful for some people to watch.

One viewer tweeted: "There a TV show on Netflix called Old Enough where little toddlers are sent on errands and it is the CUTEST and most STRESSFUL thing I have ever seen."

Someone else wrote: "It's basically the most adorable thing ever. But it's also VERY TENSE. Is there a word for this? Terrordorable?"

Many people found it unexpectedly emotional viewing.

Someone commented: "Okay the best show on netflix is a japanese reality show called old enough where toddlers go on errands by themselves and you go along with them and you WILL cry."

Another viewer agreed: "When the 2 yr old made it to the watch shop I cried. OLD ENOUGH on @netflix is everything. #HerosJourney"

Someone else wrote: "If you are feeling sad, I highly recommend watching Old Enough on Netflix. They are like 15 minute episodes following Japanese babies running errands for the first time and it is heart-meltingly cute."

Old Enough is currently streaming on Netflix.

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