[For Kids] January Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts: Learn About the New Year in a Fun Way

Rentarō Taki

The children’s song “Oshōgatsu” is a famous nursery rhyme that depicts traditional Japanese New Year scenes. It was composed by Rentarō Taki, a composer active from the Meiji to Taishō periods. Taki also created masterpieces such as “Kōjō no Tsuki” and “Hana,” and he had a significant impact on the history of Japanese music. “Oshōgatsu” is loved by people of all ages, from children to adults, and is often sung at schools and at home during the New Year season.

Rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste

A distinctive feature of Kagawa Prefecture’s ozoni (New Year’s soup) is that it uses a white miso broth with mochi filled with sweet red bean paste. This unusual combination is famous as a unique part of Kagawa’s culture, and many residents eat ozoni in this style during the New Year. The gentle flavor of white miso pairs exquisitely with the sweetness of the red bean paste, which is why it has been loved for many years. Also, since ozoni varies by region in ingredients as well as the shape and seasoning of the mochi, it’s fun to compare the differences found across Japan.

The sign of God

Kadomatsu are displayed as a sign directed toward the gods, saying, “Please come properly to this house.” As for the pine trees used to make these kadomatsu, in the old days people would head toward that year’s lucky direction—the auspicious eho—and cut pine from there to use. It seems the ritual aspect was much stronger than it is now. Even so, the big kadomatsu in front of the department store seem to get bigger every year...

Egypt

The oldest spinning top was discovered in ancient Egyptian ruins. Its shape is a bit different from the tops everyone knows; it is said to look like an enlarged nut or seed. There’s even a theory that it wasn’t a children’s toy. Some suggest it was used in various rituals, while others think it served as teaching material for exploring science or mathematics. What do you think?

a living horse

An ema is a wooden plaque that people offer at a shrine when they make a wish or as thanks when a wish is granted. You may have seen many ema hanging at shrines. Records show that in the Nara period, people even dedicated real horses. However, it’s said that even back then, those who couldn’t offer a horse would present a wooden plaque instead. If dozens of horses showed up, the shrine would have a hard time handling them, wouldn’t it?

American football

The game where the top team from the corporate league faces the No. 1 college team is called the Rice Bowl. You could say it’s the true national championship of Japan. From 2009 to 2023, corporate teams have won 15 straight times, but college teams—like Kyoto University and Nihon University—have also notched plenty of victories. I’m excited for this year’s Rice Bowl, too! By the way, the championship game in the United States is called the Super Bowl.

Edo period

Taking advantage of being blindfolded, some people probably make funny faces on purpose. It isn’t entirely clear why such fukuwarai became established as a New Year’s custom. Like the proverb “Good fortune comes to a laughing household,” perhaps laughter is considered auspicious, which is why it took root during the New Year.