[For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! Three-Hint Quiz Problem Collection

Song, New Year’s Eve, NHK

Kohaku Uta Gassen keeps us entertained by changing things up—sometimes it’s a music show that gathers the great masters of enka, sometimes a festival-like program featuring the year’s hit artists, and sometimes a show the whole family, young and old, can enjoy together.

Even those who usually go to bed early probably stay up late on New Year’s Eve, rubbing their sleepy eyes just this once.

In 2017, it was even recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Longest-Running Annual Television Music Competition.” By the way, the program first aired in 1951.

I’m already excited to see which artists will perform this year!

autumn leaves, reading, appetite

The most popular season among Japanese people used to be overwhelmingly spring, but it seems that autumn has been steadily gaining popularity lately.

Maybe that’s partly because so many people suffer from hay fever in spring? In any case, autumn is a season when you can actively engage your mind and body.

When you hear “Autumn is the season for ___,” what comes to mind? As for quizzes, the hint “autumn leaves” might be too definitive, so it’s probably better to use it in the latter half.

Including “sports” as one of the hints is a good idea, too.

Piece, match, check

Even though people say, “We’ll never see a greater genius than this,” we’ve seen one ‘king-like’ player after another dominate their era: Koji Tanigawa Meijin, Yoshiharu Habu Meijin, Akira Watanabe Meijin, and now Sota Fujii Meijin, who has become the face of the shogi world.

I can’t help getting excited wondering whether a player who will even threaten Sota Fujii Meijin might appear someday.

It’s a three-hint quiz, but if you play shogi, you can answer it easily, right? For those not familiar with shogi, it might be a bit tough.

It’s the kind of quiz that makes you want to sit down and play.

footrace, team, red and white

More and more schools are holding their fall sports days in spring, when the weather is steadier than in autumn, which has many typhoons.

However, due to global warming, even May and June can have summer-like days, so heatstroke precautions are now necessary.

As for me, I prefer the traditional autumn sports day, even if rain forces the date to shift a bit.

How about you? Speaking of the quiz, besides these hints, relay races, cheering, boxed lunches, tug-of-war, and tamaire (ball toss) are also good ideas.

Try changing up the hints in various ways and have lots of fun!

Once a year, an auspicious day when the numbers increase.

I think the hint about “the numbers increasing” is on the right track, so I’d like to use it as the very first hint.

There’s an interesting saying left by Ikkyu: “New Year’s Day is a milestone on the journey to the afterlife—both happy and not happy.” I wonder if some people feel the same way about birthdays too, thinking, “As you get older, you only get closer to death—what’s so celebratory about that?” Incidentally, Ikkyu’s birthday is said to be January 1st.

A New Year’s birthday—feels like both a gain and a loss…

Summer, chirping, short-lived

Cicadas are known for their short lifespans, but fireflies and mayflies actually have short lives too.

Mayflies, in particular, live only a few days—shorter than cicadas! Although cicadas are often highlighted for their brief adult lives, their nymph stage is actually quite long—anywhere from 3 to 17 years—spending all that time living comfortably underground.

Seventeen years in the soil—now that’s pretty long.

Lately, the so-called “prime-number cicadas,” which emerge in massive numbers on specific cycles, have been a hot topic, with researchers around the world studying them.

By the way, Matsuo Bashō’s haiku, “Such stillness—the cicadas’ cries seep into the rocks,” is one I always remember when summer comes.

Temple, maiko (apprentice geisha), yatsuhashi (traditional Kyoto sweet)

If you often travel to the Kansai area, you might guess it right away.

It’s the place with many famous temples, maiko, and the specialty yatsuhashi! At this point, you know it… That’s right, the answer is Kyoto.

Kyoto is a very popular tourist destination and is bustling with visitors year-round.

When you visit Kyoto, many people tour famous temples like To-ji, Nishi Hongan-ji, and Kiyomizu-dera.

You also can’t miss Gion, where you may spot maiko—if you’re lucky, you might even see a real one! And before you head home, be sure to pick up some yatsuhashi.

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