[For Seniors] Never Run Out of Conversation Starters! A Collection of Fun Facts About April and Spring

Strawberry Quiz

Strawberry Trivia [With Quiz + Explanations] *Corrections Included (Comments Section)

Strawberries are a familiar food, but you might be surprised by how much we don’t actually know about them.

For instance, trivia questions often point out that strawberries began to be eaten in Japan toward the end of the Edo period, that each tiny seed-like speck on the surface is actually an individual fruit, and that strawberries are technically vegetables rather than fruits.

There are lots of surprising facts.

Try this quiz and expand your strawberry trivia.

Absorbing all kinds of knowledge might help you stay youthful.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

When displaying May dolls, one thing you must not do is put them out the day before.

On Children’s Day in May, some households display May dolls (Gogatsu Ningyo).

Older people may have displayed them in the past, or perhaps still do so for their grandchildren.

These dolls are often put up in April.

In fact, it’s best to avoid displaying them the day before Children’s Day.

Putting them up the day before is called “ichiya kazari” (one-night display), and it’s considered bad luck.

The reason is that hurriedly setting out the dolls the night before can evoke associations with funerals.

Let’s take our time and display these wonderful May dolls with care.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

There is a day called “Hana Matsuri” on April 8 that celebrates the Buddha’s birthday.

The “Flower Festival” held on April 8 is a Buddhist event that celebrates the birth of the Buddha.

It’s called the Flower Festival because it is said that the Buddha was born in a flower garden in a place called Lumbini in Nepal, and on April 8 temples build a flower-adorned pavilion to celebrate.

This pavilion, called a Hanamido, is a small shrine decorated with flowers.

It’s beautifully adorned with many spring blossoms.

Please note that chrysanthemums, roses, and spring starflowers (hananira) are considered unsuitable for the Hanamido, so be mindful of this if you take part in the festival.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

sasashina

Report a problem

Difficult-to-read kanji related to spring

[Difficult Kanji Related to Spring] 20 Questions! A quiz of tricky kanji readings for flowers, plants, birds, foods, and more [For Seniors]

Spring is a season when we feel warmth, and many people strongly associate it with plants and animals becoming active.

This is a quiz that challenges you to read kanji related to spring, including springtime plants and animals.

It can be hard to give the reading from the kanji alone, so it may be easier if you use the kanji used and the season to make an educated guess.

You might find that there are words you know in speech but have never had a chance to write in kanji, so this quiz could lead to new discoveries.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Sakura Quiz

2022 Cherry-Blossom Viewing & Sakura Quiz! 12 Questions

When it comes to flowers that symbolize spring, cherry blossoms are the first that come to mind—their beauty evokes a sense of Japanese tradition.

This content invites you to take on a quiz about cherry blossoms, which are strongly associated with the image of spring in Japan, to deepen your interest in the season even further.

In Japan, cherry blossoms are used as motifs in many places, so a wide range of quiz genres seems possible.

By deepening your knowledge about cherry blossoms, you’ll also feel more inspired to go outside and see them in bloom.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem