batsu

Batsu, meaning "penalty" or "punishment" in Japanese, is a recurring concept in Japanese entertainment, most notably popularized by the long-running comedy variety show Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! (Downtown's Got No Homework!!). In this context, batsu typically refers to a set of challenges or a humorous, often embarrassing, ordeal that participants must endure if they fail to meet certain conditions or criteria during a game or segment of the show.

The most famous iteration is the "Batsu Game" which is often a special New Year's Eve broadcast. In these extended episodes, a group of comedians, primarily the cast of Gaki no Tsukai, engages in a series of absurd and physically demanding games or pranks. The core rule is that if any participant laughs, cries, or shows overt signs of surprise or distress, they incur a "batsu" – usually a swift, lighthearted physical punishment, such as a slap with a padded paddle or a gentle blow from a soft object. These punishments are designed to be more comical than genuinely painful, contributing to the overall humor of the situation.

The humor of the batsu game derives from the participants' desperate attempts to maintain composure under increasingly ridiculous and challenging circumstances, and the often over-the-top reactions of those who fail. The elaborate nature of the games, the camaraderie and rivalry among the comedians, and the anticipation of the penalties all contribute to the popularity of the batsu format, making it a staple of Japanese comedic television. The concept has also influenced similar game formats in other Asian countries.