Japanese friendship means kanchou. And kanchou means someone gets stuck behind.

While conversing at the Shrimp Catching Festival (which was good fun, by the way, despite the sunburn and jellyfish stings), it came to my attention that not only do many of the neophyte JETs have yet to receive or witness a kanchou, but there also some 2nd years who have yet to experience this essential part of Japanese culture. Steph and I, being the proponents of cultural education that we are, encouraged my son Jared to give a live demonstration using Pete as the guinea pig. Unfortunately, this was to no avail. Thus, I have decided go below and beyond my call as an ALT and give a better explaination of the kanchou and provide a snapshot of an actual kanchou about to take place (see above).

The original definition of kanchou is "enema" or "injection". What it has come to refer to is the event of someone (usually a child) jabbing their finger up the butt of another. It sounds really strange (and it is), but it is not sexual or hostile. In fact, it is usually a sign of friendship. Females are rarely the recipients of kanchou (Hallelujah!), but males, and especially gaijin teachers of young children, are likely receive them day in and day out.

In the above picture, my husband is about to receive a kanchou from one of my oldest son's classmates. Note the impish look of glee the young child has on his face as he is about to victimize the unsuspecting man.