SpongeBob Square Pants, for whatever reason, was popular back in the US what? Like almost a decade ago. When I was in college I remember some friends watching it once for fun. Little known secret--my wife learned English by watching SpongeBob. The English is easy, the situations clear cut and the episodes short.

But did you know SpongeBob is alive and well here in Japan. For sports day, classes must make their own banners. Two of my classes chose SpongeBob as their mascot. Keep in mind these kids are 13, 14 years old. They would be High School freshmen, were they in America.

While SpongeBob may be commonplace here, I remember catching the show on TV once. Amazingly, the theme song was changed to "What Bob Who Pants?" I never saw or heard that jingle again, nor do any of my students recognize "What Bob Who Pants?" but I swear I'm not crazy and heard that on TV once.

Yeah the "Hail Hitler" salute is kinda weird on SpongeBob don't cha think?