Canadian dad of two Daniel Hashimoto successfully converted a household leaf blower into a flamethrower that his kids now use to incinerate things around their backyard. James and Sophia have declared the flamethrower as the best toy ever in a disarming video that is now scorching the internet.
Hashimoto, a 39-year-old animation worker from Prince Edward Island, told South West News Service, that to his children, the flamethrower was not a deadly weapon, but more a dynamic and giggle-inducing obstacle. He added that their kids had a friend over to play on the patio, and they decided to let them have some supervised play with this electric leaf blower.
The do-it-yourself device might look diabolical but the blaze is actually a very harmless burst of flame-colored silk fabric, according to the New York Post. Hashimoto's rationale behind his toy creation is that he and his wife Mandy Richardville hope to inspire creativity for the children.
Hashimoto's creation a huge hit with its realistic flames
He said so far his idea has paid off. The only reason he is not catching heat for endangering his two kids is because the flamethrower he created only expels strips of silk colored to look like realistic fire.
Canadian dad Daniel Hashimoto invents flamethrower for kids to play with at his PEI home: 'Best toy ever': 'Relax already: The DIY device might look diabolical — but the burst of flame is actually a very harmless blaze of flame-colored silk fabric.' https://t.co/NnY5rxmApf
— Lorrie Goldstein (@sunlorrie) August 7, 2022
Hashimoto said they decided to see how the lightweight fabric might play with the blower, so his seven-year-old daughter Sophia grabbed a large rubber band and some tape, and they affixed it to the nozzle. He added that the result was even more spectacular than they imagined with large billowing waves looking remarkably like flames, according to Dexerto.
Hashimoto said the device was immediately dubbed "the flame thrower." He said the children now play games like "flame tag" or jump rope over the embers. The kids even reenact scenes similar to the Nickelodeon show "Avatar: The Last Airbender" when they play with the flamethrower.
Hashimoto said that even before the landscaping faux torch came to be, he put his leaf blower to good use with the children. The pyro patriarch said that they hovered ping-pong balls, did slow-motion videos of their hair blowing in the wind, tried inflating a fitted sheet like a big marshmallow, before building the flame thrower.
Not everyone is happy with Hashimoto's flamethrower
He added that when you're a kid, play time is epic and you can imagine larger-than-life scenarios. Hashimoto said that beyond hosting the best playdates in their neighborhood and being a shoo-in for father of the year, this sort of creativity will go a long way in the development of their kids.
Hashimoto believes that most kids can turn this kind of imagination into being good at improvising, and dealing with challenges. He added that they definitely want to encourage imaginative play, creative problem solving and inventing a fun new game out of what is lying around.
Not everyone is happy with his creation, though, according to Newsweek. One user accused them of glorifying one of the most horrific weapons of war while another wrote that a gun should not be a toy for a child.
