HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

A is a common element in Japanese ''
owarai is a broad word used to describe Japanese comedy as seen on television. The word ''owarai'' is the Honorific speech in Japanese#Honorific prefixes, honorific form of the word ''warai'' (by adding o- prefix), meaning "a laugh" or "a smile". '' ...
'' stage comedy and
variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp� ...
s. The name comes from 罰, ''batsu'', meaning both "punishment" and "X", as in an incorrect answer.


Definition

Generally, a ''batsu'' game takes place after some sort of competition or bet. The winner forces the loser to participate in the ''batsu'' game, which involves doing or experiencing something unpleasant. The winner takes enjoyment in the fact that he does not have to experience the punishment and that he is forcing the loser to do so. Because the ''batsu'' game relies on an acceptance on the part of the loser to experience the punishment as a result of losing, precautions must be taken to ensure that the punishment game is not too cruel or needlessly painful. ''Batsu'' games are often shown on Japanese TV shows because they are considered funny. However, the humor arises not from the punishment itself, but from the reactions of the (most commonly) comedians who are experiencing the punishment.


Examples

A basic example of a ''batsu'' game in a variety show is "
rock, paper, scissors Rock, Paper, Scissors (also known by #Names, several other names and word orders) is an Intransitive game, intransitive hand game, usually played between two people, in which each player simultaneously forms one of three shapes with an outstret ...
" and leads to the loser being slapped in the face by the winner. Other common examples include being forced into a pool of extremely hot water or eating something filled with
wasabi Wasabi (Japanese language, Japanese: , , or , ) or Japanese horseradish (''Eutrema japonicum'' syn. ''Wasabia japonica'') is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and Mustard plant, mustard in other genus, genera. ...
. Somewhat more complicated examples of punishments found in Japanese TV shows include the following:
skydiving Parachuting and skydiving are methods of descending from a high point in an atmosphere to the ground or ocean surface with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or multiple parachutes. For hu ...
; thrill rides at an amusement park; eating foods not commonly considered edible; or being forced to fight a
martial artist Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the pres ...
or
sumo wrestler A , or, more colloquially, , is a sumo wrestler. Although used to define all wrestlers participating in sumo wrestling matches, the term is more commonly used to refer to professional wrestlers, employed by the Japan Sumo Association, who part ...
. However, because these punishments take a fair amount of preparation and expense, these are commonly found only on TV shows. There have also been ''batsu'' games where the competition itself is like a ''batsu'' game—none of the competitors are participating in order to win, but they are participating in order to be as funny as possible. Examples of this include the Human Tetris segment from the ''
Tunnels A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...
'' TV show, the All-Star Athletic Games from the TV show '' Haneru no Tobira'', and the 24-Hour ''batsu'' games from ''
Gaki no Tsukai , often abbreviated or just , is a Japanese variety show hosted by popular Japanese owarai duo Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Tsukitei (formerly known as Hōsei Yamasaki) and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting. The program has been broadcast on ...
''. A possible non-Japanese example of a ''batsu'' game includes the "humiliations" that occur after one of the two titular participants fails a challenge in the Canadian TV show '' Kenny vs. Spenny''. New York City comedy troupe ''
Face Off Unlimited Face Off Unlimited is an improvisational comedy production company based in New York City. History In 2003, Jay Painter and Eric Robinson founded Friday Night Face Off, a weekly improvised comedy show in Port Jefferson, New York featuring two t ...
'' also produces a weekly improv comedy batsu game show called BATSU! ''
The Dan Patrick Show ''The Dan Patrick Show'' is a syndicated radio and television sports talk show, hosted by former ESPN personality Dan Patrick. It is currently produced by Patrick and is syndicated to radio stations by Premiere Radio Networks, within and inde ...
'' features a "Wheel of Punishment," which features a number of batsu game-style punishments.この時に相手球団の応援メッセージを言う、または名物コーナーに出演するといったおまけが付いている。


Criticism

''Batsu'' games are considered funny in Japan because of the (often outrageous) reactions of the comedians that experience them. However, there have been cases of injuries caused by ''batsu'' games, such as one at the
Kumamoto is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 738,907 and a population density of 1,893 people per km2. The total area is 390.32 km2. had a populat ...
Aquadome, where a participant jumped into a pool from a high dive platform and broke several ribs. Injuries caused by such ''batsu'' games are often not aired on TV, meaning that an injury hurts both the injured person and the TV show itself. As ''batsu'' games have become more and more common on Japanese TV, some shows have increased the danger of the punishments. Critics have commented that the problem lies not with the ''batsu'' games themselves, but the popular demand for them. Conversely, participants in televised ''batsu'' games are often criticized as faking their distress, because the humor lies only in their reaction to the punishment and therefore the punishment need not exist. An oft-discussed example of this is the hot water baths—the participants claim that the water is extremely hot, but it does not need to be hot for the participants to provide a funny reaction. As such, participants will often try to convince the viewers that the water is hot through various means (having an audience member stick his hand in the water, for example, or breaking character by saying that the water is hotter than it was during rehearsal). Generally speaking, the punishments are real rather than faked (the water is hot, the wasabi is spicy), but they are maintained at a level of preventing injuries.


References

{{Reflist Japanese entertainment terms