Hey Lori,
Sorry for the late reply! Just got back from a trip to Tohoku. Saw mummied corpses in temples (cool!), and went to Osorezan, a mountain said to be the gateway to hell (awesomely depressing landscape). Now, I'm resting for a bit before going to Kyushu this Tuesday.
Yeah, about the kancho-ing. I'm serious...
Unfortunately for us non-Japanese, from the Japanese viewpoint, kancho-ing and such stuff is normal for kids. To them, touching a friend's private part is like patting him on the shoulder. I've even heard from my female ALT friends that some kids tried to touch their boobs, and flip up their skirts even.
First few times I got assaulted, I shouted at and squeezed the kids' hand so bad they cried, though I was risking my job... Now I've given up and try to ignore them. I've become de-sensitized, I think. That's what spending almost 5 years in Japan can do for you. Sigh...
Yes, Japan is one of a kind... and not necessarily in a good way. I love Japan, but if I happen to marry and have kids, I will not want them to study in a public school in Japan.