A three-choice trivia quiz about cherry blossoms: a collection of quizzes to make hanami twice as fun

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.

Cherry blossoms, which bloom with beautiful flowers every spring, are beloved as the quintessential plant for hanami (flower viewing).

Their beautiful pink and white blossoms are an indispensable part of Japanese culture that lets us feel the arrival of spring.

In this article, we’ll present a quiz that lets you learn fun trivia themed around cherry blossoms.

We’ve prepared questions that deepen your knowledge, including their characteristics and historical background.

It’s also perfect for hanami and a variety of springtime activities! Give this quiz a try—it’s enjoyable for everyone from children to adults.

Three-choice trivia quiz about cherry blossoms: a collection of quizzes (21–30) to double your enjoyment of hanami

What do cherry leaves contain?

vitamin
Tannin
poison

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poison

What is contained in cherry leaves is coumarin, which is known as a toxin. Coumarin is recognized as an aromatic compound with a pleasant scent, but caution is needed because consuming large amounts may adversely affect the liver. Cherry leaves used in traditional Japanese confections are processed—such as by pickling in salt—to reduce coumarin. Cherry leaves that have been properly processed in this way are safe to eat.

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Which effects does the scent of cherry blossoms have?

Relaxation effect
Relieve a headache
Improve concentration

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Relaxation effect

The scent of cherry blossoms is said to have a relaxing effect. This fragrance calms the mind, helps relieve stress, and, with the arrival of spring, has the quality of bringing comfort to people.

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What are the characteristics of the Taiwan cherry (kanhizakura)?

The color of the leaves changes.
fall as a flower
Flowers bloom in winter

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fall as a flower

A notable feature of the Taiwan cherry is that its blossoms fall to the ground intact, rather than dropping their petals one by one. This is said to be because the petals and stamens are attached to each other. If you spot them, be sure to take a closer look.

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What animal’s meat is referred to as “sakurani ku” (sakura meat)?

horse
pig
sheep

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horse

Sakurani ku refers to horse meat. There are various theories as to why horse meat is called sakura meat: because it becomes tastier in the season when cherry blossoms bloom; because the color of the meat resembles that of cherry blossoms; and because it was used as a euphemism for secretly eating meat during times when meat consumption was prohibited.

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What is the confectionery that is said to represent the order in which cherry blossoms bloom?

tricolor dango
Sakura mochi
hishi mochi (diamond-shaped layered rice cake)

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tricolor dango

The order of pink, white, and green in the three-color dango represents the sequence of cherry blossoms blooming. Pink is the color of the buds, white is the color of the flowers in full bloom, and green is the color of the leaves after the blossoms. When you make three-color dango at home, try remembering this order!

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Why do cherry blossoms form before the leaves?

To attract insects
Because pollen sticks to the leaves and interferes with pollination.
to get plenty of sunlight

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Because pollen sticks to the leaves and interferes with pollination.

Cherry blossoms bloom before their leaves to improve pollination efficiency. If the leaves emerged first, pollen could stick to them, potentially hindering successful pollination. Therefore, by flowering before the leaves unfold, cherry trees avoid interference with pollination.

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What color does the center of a cherry blossom turn as a sign that it will fall?

yellow
red
white

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red

When cherry blossoms first bloom, the center is white or greenish, but as they’re about to fall, it turns red. You can enjoy both—the blossoms with white or green centers and those that have started to turn red—so it might be nice to go flower viewing twice: once at the beginning of the season and once near the end.

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