Kancho
Encyclopedia
is a prank often played in Japan
; it is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them sharply into someone's anal
region when the victim is not looking. It is similar to the wedgie
or a goosing (also known as 'poo-fingering' in some English boarding schools), although, as compared to kancho, the former mentioned acts do not involve physical contact which is quite as intimate or direct. A Kancho is often executed simultaneously as the offending party loudly emphasizes the second syllable of "Kan-CHO!".
adoption of the Japanese word for . In accordance with widespread practice, the word is generally written in katakana
when used in its slang sense, and in kanji
when used of enemas in the medical sense.
glorifying this act (such as Naruto
, where it has been called the Thousand Years of Death). In Japan, there is even a TV gameshow where a celebrity routinely kanchōs random people.
In February 2006, Nanmon Kaiketsu (Solving Difficult Problems), an NHK
TV show about social problems, speculated that the long-term leniency of Kancho is an indirect cause of the rampant train gropings across Japan.
, it is known as 똥침 which may be romanized
as ttong chim, dong chim or ddong chim. The term may be roughly translated to "poop needle".
In the Philippines
, it is known as "katsibong", "bembong", "bombet", "jempot" or "pidyok", from the Filipino
word "tumbong" for rectum
.
In Taiwan, the practice is called "童子拜觀音", literally "i am a rapist".
In Vietnam, it is called "Thông đít", roughly means "to penetrate your anus". A page referencing to the act was created by a student in Foreign Languages Specializing School.
In certain countries such as the United Kingdom
, the act of kancho may be illegal, being considered sexual harassment
, or even sexual assault
. While the practice is known in South Korea, there have been cases where adults performing it have been arrested. However, in Japan it is considered a childish prank rather than a criminal act.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; it is performed by clasping the hands together so the index fingers are pointing out and attempting to insert them sharply into someone's anal
Anus
The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest,...
region when the victim is not looking. It is similar to the wedgie
Wedgie
A wedgie occurs when a person's underwear or other garments are wedged between the buttocks. While a wedgie can be created naturally, the term is usually associated with a prank or as a form of bullying...
or a goosing (also known as 'poo-fingering' in some English boarding schools), although, as compared to kancho, the former mentioned acts do not involve physical contact which is quite as intimate or direct. A Kancho is often executed simultaneously as the offending party loudly emphasizes the second syllable of "Kan-CHO!".
Etymology
The word is a slangSlang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
adoption of the Japanese word for . In accordance with widespread practice, the word is generally written in katakana
Katakana
is a Japanese syllabary, one component of the Japanese writing system along with hiragana, kanji, and in some cases the Latin alphabet . The word katakana means "fragmentary kana", as the katakana scripts are derived from components of more complex kanji. Each kana represents one mora...
when used in its slang sense, and in kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
when used of enemas in the medical sense.
In Japan
The prank is pervasive in Japan. There are animeAnime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
glorifying this act (such as Naruto
Naruto
is an ongoing Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. The plot tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, an adolescent ninja who constantly searches for recognition and aspires to become the Hokage, the ninja in his village who is acknowledged as the leader and the strongest of...
, where it has been called the Thousand Years of Death). In Japan, there is even a TV gameshow where a celebrity routinely kanchōs random people.
In February 2006, Nanmon Kaiketsu (Solving Difficult Problems), an NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
TV show about social problems, speculated that the long-term leniency of Kancho is an indirect cause of the rampant train gropings across Japan.
In other countries
This prank is not exclusive to Japan. In South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, it is known as 똥침 which may be romanized
Romanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
as ttong chim, dong chim or ddong chim. The term may be roughly translated to "poop needle".
In the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, it is known as "katsibong", "bembong", "bombet", "jempot" or "pidyok", from the Filipino
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
word "tumbong" for rectum
Rectum
The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. The human rectum is about 12 cm long...
.
In Taiwan, the practice is called "童子拜觀音", literally "i am a rapist".
In Vietnam, it is called "Thông đít", roughly means "to penetrate your anus". A page referencing to the act was created by a student in Foreign Languages Specializing School.
In certain countries such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the act of kancho may be illegal, being considered sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
, or even sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
. While the practice is known in South Korea, there have been cases where adults performing it have been arrested. However, in Japan it is considered a childish prank rather than a criminal act.
See also
- Boong-Ga Boong-GaBoong-Ga Boong-GaBoong-Ga Boong-Ga , also known as Spank 'em, is an arcade game developed by a South Korean company, Taff System. It is the first arcade game to simulate kancho, a children's prank popular in Japan where the victim is poked with two fingers in the anal region while distracted.The game received...
, a video game for the Korean and Japanese market that allows the player to engage in simulated anal probing. - School prankSchool prankA school prank is any of several common pranks primarily occurring in an educational setting.The effect and intent of school pranks may range from everyday play and consensual bonding behavior to hazing, bullying or assault, including sexual assault....
External links
- Kancho.jp - A site devoted to Kancho.
- Gaijin Chronicles - A series of editorials written by an American language teacher living in Kyoto, Japan, including many thwarted multiple-kancho attempts (formerly Outpostnine - I am a Japanese School Teacher)