Do you know what Kimodameshi (肝試し) is? Kimo (肝) means liver and dameshi (試し) means “test.” However, it is commonly known as “Test of Courage.” In Japan, the liver in this case can refer to the phrase “Kimo ga Suwaru,” which would be something like demonstrating your courage or showing yourself to be brave.
Kimodameshi can be considered a child’s game, but in fact, adults also play and even feel fear like their children or nearby kids; it is usually done during the summer, at the Obon festival in August. The date can be considered special for the test because it is said that during the festival, the dead or spirits return to this world to visit their relatives and loved ones.
Playing Kimodameshi is very simple. Participants throw down a challenge, usually to visit abandoned places rumored to have apparitions, ghosts, among other paranormal events, and the winner is the one who stays the longest at the location.
Typically in anime, characters play kimodameshi to bring couples together, meaning the characters go in pairs, hoping to spark a romance.
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Where Kimodameshi Originated
Kimodameshi, like almost all Japanese legends and practices, does not have a certain origin, but there are two stories that can give an idea of where it originated.
The first is that it may have originated at the end of the Heian period, during the reign of Emperor Shirakawa (1073-1087) because of a book called “O-kagami” (大 鏡; “Great mirror”), written by an unknown author.
The book tells the story of the three sons of Fujiwara Kaneie. In the story, the 3 sons challenge each other to see who has the most courage to go to a nearby house known to be the home of an Oni (demon). The story states that at 3 in the morning is the time when spiritual portals open and various demons and ghosts appear.
It is not known if it is a legend or a real story, but it is said that it may have been created by samurai as a way to train their children against fear. The samurai of the Edo period also played by telling real horror stories, the game was known as “The 100 Ghost Stories” (百物語怪談会 – Hyaku monogatari kaidankai).
How to Play Kimodameshi?
There are no rules in Kimodameshi, but of course, they can be imposed before starting; the way of playing varies from region to region, but the goal will always be to give a good scare. The game can be organized, where a group of friends comes together to challenge each other, or it can be a school or family event, with rules and many participants.
Typically, the first contact that Japanese people have with Kimodameshi is at camps or school events. At school events, it is common for teachers and volunteers to dress in monster or ghost costumes and hide in strategic places; objects such as skulls and the like can also be used.
Originally, kids gather in places like cemeteries, shrines, tunnels, abandoned and haunted houses, parks or buildings, with the challenge being done in pairs or individually. They go at night to the designated location so that everyone feels scared; the organizer usually leaves objects scattered in these places, and you will have the objective of picking up the objects as proof that you passed through the place.
Japanese Haunted House
Kimodameshi is quite similar to haunted houses in amusement parks. Something common in both the West and the East, these houses present in parks are also meeting places for couples and potential romantic scenes.
In fact, these tests of courage can be done in places like abandoned houses and buildings. Before these events take place, there is always a scary story about the location.
You Could Get Arrested if You Don’t Play Right
The teachers and students responsible for the event usually do things correctly. But if the event is trespassing on someone else’s property, it can cause legal problems.
If you get lost and trespass into a restricted area, you do not need to take responsibility, but if you are given a warning and do not leave the location, you could end up being fined up to 100,000 yen or be imprisoned for 3 years.
You must be very careful not to graffiti or paint on someone else’s property, nor to play too rough and cause physical harm to others. The Japanese penal code is quite serious and does not accept mischief like some countries do.
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