罰ゲーム(batsu geemu). Meaning “punishment game”, a batsu game is usually a punishment for losing some sort of competition or quiz (the punishment isn’t necessarily a game itself). A typical batsu game is to drink some sort of strong-tasting or foul liquid, such as pure vinegar. Batsu also signifies the symbol “×” in Japanese, which literally means “wrong”, as in a wrong answer.
Education has been and is an important issue in Japanese society. There are three ways that a child is educated in Japan: by attending a public school for a compulsory education, by attending a private school for a compulsory education, or by attending a private school that does not adhere to standards set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).