Television Reviews : Big Bird, Barkley the Dog Visit Japan and Get Lost

Big Bird and his friend, Barkley the Dog, are separated from their tour bus in Tokyo--and they don’t speak Japanese. How will they get back to Sesame Street ?

“Big Bird in Japan” (tonight, Channels 28 and 15 at 8 p.m.) answers this question in a way that introduces children to Japanese culture without being didactic about it. It also indulges in a bit of delicate, fairy-tale-style fantasy that should engage children’s imaginations without too much strain.

A co-production of the Children’s Television Workshop and the Japanese network Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), this “Big Bird” was shot on several beautiful Japanese locations by director-writer Jon Stone. It features Maiko Kawakami as a mysterious woman who comes to the aid of the stranded Big Bird and Barkley.

The only problem is Kawakami’s barely passable singing voice. Her solos might make a few youngsters restless. But the simple musical score--by Dick Lieb, Tony Geiss and Carol Hall--generally enhances the storytelling.

The picture of Japan here is strictly tourist board-approved, so much so that children might confront their parents with a sudden demand for foreign travel.

So take them to Little Tokyo.