10 Most Bizarre Japanese Trends

By Gord Stark / January 28, 2014

5. Kancho

So far we have looked at some of the most quirky, good-natured and rebellious Japanese trends. It's time to move on to the downright disturbing. Kancho is often described as a "prank", and is usually carried out by children. The prankster (or, to be more accurate, sexual assailant) clasps their hands together to form a gun shape, and then attempts to insert their index fingers forcefully into an unsuspecting victim's anus. No, unfortunately none of that was a typo, I double checked the official Kancho website.

This act of good-natured tomfoolery is often followed up immediately by a shrill cry of "Kan-CHO!", presumably as a consolation prize, so that the victim will find it easier to explain their trauma-induced night-terrors to their psychiatrist. Apparently the name "Kancho" derives from Japanese slang, meaning Enema. The most disturbing part about this craze is that it is carried out by children. The other terrifying aspect is that it is generally seen as a harmless prank. There are scores of horror stories from foreign english teachers who have fallen prey to Kancho practitioners. To be fair, some of the videos on YouTube are hilarious, as awkward Westerners run around the room while trying in vain to shield their rear-ends from the wandering fingers of giggling Japanese students.

This craze has reached the stage where battle-scarred Foreign teachers are writing Kancho survival guides so that others may avoid the terrible fate. It has also been portrayed in Japanese media several times - including the Naruto Anime series and Boong-ga Boong-ga - a game which offers a simulated Kancho experience.

We'll pass.