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Batsu Games

Probably the best known Gaki episodes are those dealing with batsu games, or punishment games, in which one or more of the cast members participate after losing bets, major games, or physical challenges.

The "No Laughing" Batsu Game was first introduced in 2003 and then there's one annually since then. The premise of each "No Laughing"-punishment game is, members of the cast who were not successful in completing a preliminary trial will be subjected to compromising, absurd, generally ridiculous situations for a long period of time (up to 24-hours, thus far) but must refrain from laughing at any of them. Whenever someone does so, and he is caught by A Watcher, the announcer of the game will declare that person as having just become "out" (??? or a-u-to in Japanese); immediately afterwards, the appropriate number of "hang-men" will come out to mete the rule breaker's punishment. (To date, this has been executed via single strikes on the buttocks {or somewhere in that area} with a weapon — one which does not change mid-game.)

To keep the Gaki no Tsukai Guys on their toes, there have been occasions where other conditions besides laughing had been set that could make them out, if fulfilled; also, the "victors" of the prelim-trial (if there are any) can make appearances during games to wreak further mischief and potentially cause even more discomfort to the losers.


    * No-Laughing Newspaper Agency (2008)

For the second time around, all five members of the Gaki no Tsukai crew took part in the annual punishment game. This year the chosen setting was a newspaper agency. The members had to go to a number of mock press conferences dressed as journalists. Endo-'s ex-wife Chiaki made a guest appearance. In keeping with the theme of the punishment game, giant latex pencils were used to strike anyone who had been declared out.