Batsu game

In Western countries, when you mark answers as 'correct', you use a tick. Wrong answers are marked with a cross.

In Japan, correct answers are marked with a circle ('maru') or a cross ('batsu'). I've even seen Japanese teachers of English check students' writing by circling correct words and sentences in red pen. In Australia, if you circled a word in red pen, it would mean the answer was incorrect, so I guess there's a small cultural difference there.

Anyway, 'batsu' means 'cross mark', but it can also mean 'punishment', and that's where the 'batsu game' comes from.

A 'batsu game' is like a 'fun' way of punishing someone. For example, if you're playing a game in class and one student gets out or loses, the other students might make them do a 'batsu game', like singing in front of everyone, or making a weird face, eating something strange, or showing off some unique skill. It's a popular exercise on game shows. I've seen teachers do it too, punishing other teachers who were late for staff meetings. ^_^