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

Monkey, pheasant, dog

When it comes to folktales we’ve memorized well enough to tell others, I imagine many people would name Momotaro.

A mysterious premise of being born from a peach, a classic good-versus-evil story where bad ogres are defeated, teamwork with a monkey, a pheasant, and a dog, and finally victory—it seems to pack in every element that appeals to children.

There are various theories, but some say that in fact Prince Kibitsuhiko was the model for Momotaro.

It’s even said that his chief retainers—likened to the monkey, pheasant, and dog—really existed! If you’re curious, be sure to look into it.

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.