Happy Year of the Rat - from Japan

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While people in China will not start celebrating the "Year of the Rat" until February 8th, the Japanese have started with - yes you guessed it ........A Rat Race!

The Hamura city zoo in Western Tokyo kicked off the celebration of the New Year with this unusual and fun animal race. Twelve select mice were placed in partitioned lanes and allowed to race against each other, to see who was the fastest house mouse in Japan. The mice not only had to run, but also jump through hurdles to win the race.

Hundreds of spectators gathered to watch this fun event where the kids were allowed to pick their favorite mouse and cheer it on. The best part was that if their favorite mouse won, they were given a mice-themed gift. The video below shows the whole race - pay attention to mouse # 3 who wins and then starts the whole thing over - he was obviously not paying attention when they explained the rules!

The year of the Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac and includes people born in years - 1900,1912,1924,1936,1948,1960,1972,1984,1996 & 2008. People born under this sign are supposed to be - charming and attractive, hard working, love getting stuff but don't like to spend too much money, have a bad temper and like to gossip and last but the best - are very ambitious and will be very successful!

Happy Year of the Rat from Japan!

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33 Comments
  • shivi483
    shivi483almost 10 years
    I was born as a monkey and it kind of rank 1 and they say we are smart generous hard working all sorts of things and it is said some thing wired that they get easily attracted with dragons or rats which is wired and the worst to attract is tigers snake our pig.
  • shivi483
    shivi483almost 10 years
    The year of the sheep in 2015
    • happypug12
      happypug12almost 10 years
      I was born in the year of the monkey - That means I'm smart, able to persuade people, enthusiastic to achieve things, and easily discouraged. : I
    • nikukyu
      nikukyualmost 10 years
      This years animal is a sheep!
    • gymnasticsgirlalmost 10 years
      Cute sporty rats:)
      • cute puge 101about 10 years
        rats are my fav animal
        • icecream967
          icecream967over 10 years
          me too
          • winkthefairy
            winkthefairyover 10 years
            I am 2004 so im the year of the monkey
            • Jessica almost 11 years
              That was cool and all, but I think gossip should be more tragic breakups and stuff
              • pearlisha
                pearlishaabout 11 years
                mr garrison is a rat