Always wished you could live in Japan? Ever think about moving to Japan to teach English after college? It seems to be a popular dream, but maybe you should think again. I recently stumbled across an occasionally funny and frequently disturbing uncensored account of what it’s really like working in a Japanese junior high as an American teaching aide, at a website called Outpost 9.
Among the many things I learned reading through this site, anime fans will be delighted to discover that many anime characters’ idiosyncrasies are fact-based. For instance, Naruto fans will recall the jutsu “1000 Years of Pain” (pictured below). It turns out that this jutsu has roots in a real tradition:
“Let me introduce you to a game Japanese kids like to play called “Kancho.”
Actually, it’s not so much a “game” as it is kids clasping their hands together, sticking out their first fingers, and shoving them up your butt. I’m really not joking.
You know, before we come to Japan, they tell us a lot of ultimately useless stuff. What kind of computer to bring, if our DVD’s will work, clothing sizes, that kind of nonsense. Nowhere, and I mean nowhere, in the 3-4 months of orientations did anyone ever mention that at some point, a Japanese kid may try to stick their fingers up our butt. That’s something I would have liked to know, personally.
It’s called Kancho, and just about any kid can be a Kancho Assassin. Even the sweetest little girl may be prone to jam her fingers up your ass the second you turn around. This happened to one of my friends, which just goes to show – don’t trust anyone. I’d say the little girls are the most dangerous cause they have natural ways of lowering your defenses.
I was pretty lucky. Before I came, I bought a really big, really baggy pair of pants. The kids try to Kancho…but they just have no idea where my ass is! It’s beautiful! I had one kid try and find his fingers hit nothing but jean fabric and air. Yes! But I’ve actually gotten pretty good at dodging it, much like Spider-man I have developed a Kancho Sense that tells me where and when it’s coming before it comes. I parry fingers like a pro. My record is still 100% Kancho Free. Ha! America 2, Japan 0.
All in a day’s work I suppose.”
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rowan
