[Challenge] Stimulate your intellectual curiosity with a general knowledge quiz you might not know!
Japan has a wide variety of historical events, historic buildings, traditions, and culture.
There’s a lot you learn in school, but it’s nearly impossible to know everything about Japan just from classes alone.
Still, there are bits of Japanese trivia and common knowledge we’d love for you to know! In this article, we’ll present quizzes on Japanese trivia and general knowledge.
Some of it overlaps with what you learn in class, but we also cover related events and things that have become common knowledge over Japan’s long history.
Try the quizzes and get to know Japan even better!
- It never hurts to know! General knowledge quiz
- General knowledge quiz time! From trivia to questions about Japan and the world
- [Interesting] Compilation of Trivia Quiz Questions
- Useful right away in daily life! Surprising trivia and handy tips
- [Killing Time] A Collection of Fun Trivia Quizzes You'll Want to Share with Someone
- A quiz of fun trivia: bite-sized knowledge that leads to new insights.
- Let’s take on the challenge! A multiple-choice history quiz for elementary school students. Review your history lessons.
- Fun facts you’ll want to share! January trivia and tidbits special
- [General] Japan-wide Prefecture Quiz
- True-or-false quiz for adults: a full roundup from common-sense questions to surprising trivia!
- Trivia quiz about schools: a roundup of fun facts you’ll want to brag about
- Aim for a perfect score! A three-choice common knowledge quiz that deepens your understanding
- So interesting you’ll want to tell someone! December Trivia & Fun Facts Special
World Knowledge and International Common Sense Quiz (11–20)
What do you call the Indigenous peoples of Australia?
See the answer
Aborigine
The Indigenous peoples of Australia are called Aborigines. They have their own distinct cultures and languages, and the rock formation made famous by a movie, Ayers Rock, is a sacred site. Nowadays, they are usually referred to not as “Aborigines,” but as “Aboriginal” or “Aboriginal Australians.”
Which country is the smallest in the world?
See the answer
Vatican City
The smallest country in the world is Vatican City, located to the west of Rome, Italy. Its area is about 0.4 square kilometers, roughly the size of 10 Tokyo Domes. The official language is Latin, but Italian and French are also commonly used. By the way, the second smallest country is Monaco, which is about five times larger than Vatican City.
The Baltic states are Estonia, Latvia, and what’s the other one?
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Lithuania
The remaining one of the Baltic states is Lithuania. These countries are geographically close, share many historical similarities, and are known for having gained independence from the former Soviet Union. Lithuania is the southernmost of the three, and its capital is Vilnius. The Baltic states are considered an important region for studying European international relations, culture, and history.
Who was the first person in the world to go into space?
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Yuri Gagarin
The first person to travel into space was Yuri Gagarin. He was a serviceman of the former Soviet Union and embarked on his space journey in April 1961. He left behind the famous words, “The Earth was blue.” Incidentally, the first Japanese person to go to space was Toyohiro Akiyama, who was an employee of TBS.
What is the Chinese name for Mount Everest?
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Chomolungma
Mount Everest is known as the highest mountain in the world, but in China it is called “Qomolangma.” Qomolangma means “Goddess Mother of the World” in Tibetan, and it is a sacred mountain that has long been venerated by local people. From its elevation and the origin of its name, we can see how deeply it is connected to the region’s history and culture.
Life, Culture, and Entertainment General Knowledge Quiz (1–10)
What does the “so” in the cooking mnemonic “sa-shi-su-se-so” refer to?
See the answer
miso
Among the basic seasonings remembered by the mnemonic “sa-shi-su-se-so,” the “so” refers to miso. This mnemonic takes the initial sound of each seasoning and is designed to indicate the order of adding them and to make them easier to remember. The fact that miso is included in the basic knowledge of home cooking also shows how important miso has been to the Japanese, doesn’t it?
What sport is called “chess on ice?”
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Curling
The sport known as “chess on ice” is curling, in which the Japanese team has also been excelling. It’s called this because it requires precise strategy, such as where to place each stone and when. It became an official Olympic event at the Nagano Olympics held in Japan in 1998.