General knowledge quiz time! From trivia to questions about Japan and the world

Imported goods become cheaper.

When the yen appreciates, the value of the yen rises against foreign currencies, so imports from abroad can be purchased with fewer Japanese yen, resulting in cheaper imported goods. Conversely, when the yen depreciates, its value falls against foreign currencies, making imports more expensive and exports cheaper.

Once-in-a-lifetime encounter

You might be tempted to read this as “ikki ikkai,” but it’s actually pronounced “ichigo ichie.” It means “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” It can be used not only for encounters with people but also to describe situations at work. It’s a phrase suited for special moments, so be sure to remember it.

15ml

One tablespoon is 15 ml. It’s commonly used as a standard measure to accurately measure liquids and powders when cooking. By the way, a teaspoon is 5 ml, which is one third of a tablespoon.

Venus

The first star refers to the bright star that is first visible at dusk, and this is often Venus. Venus is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun, and it is also called the Morning Star and the Evening Star. Sirius is the brightest fixed star in the night sky, but it is not as bright as Venus and is not called the first star. The North Star always points north and is not the first star.

east

When it comes to the direction the sun rises, it’s easy to understand, but with the moon, you might not be sure. However, like the sun, the moon also rises in the eastern sky.

Sky Orchestra

Karaoke is perfect for when you want to sing your heart out. Did you know its formal name is actually “empty orchestra”? In the music industry, accompaniment tracks without vocals are called “kara-oke” (empty orchestra). That’s where the current term “karaoke” comes from.

The sky looks like it's going to rain.

When you hear the term “amemoyō,” don’t you picture a sky where it’s already raining? In fact, the original meaning of amemoyō describes a sky that looks like it’s about to rain. These days, people sometimes use it to mean that it’s actually raining, and because interpretations vary from person to person, it’s apparently not used in weather forecasts.