Last time, we explored the ins and outs of three classic manga visual gags: sweat drops, sprouting animal ears, and growing mushrooms on one’s head. Today, we’ll be tackling the origins and cultural significance of another batch of well-known Japanese jokes, as well as highlighting our favorite examples of each one. If you’ve ever wondered why manga characters get bloody noses from seeing something sexy or rocket off into the sky with a twinkle when punched, we’re here to put those wonders to rest. Let’s get started!

This article was written for Honey’s Anime, so please read it on their site.