[For Seniors] Fun Riddles That Stimulate the Brain

Even a barrel is a barrel, but what do you call a barrel that glows?

This is a type of problem where you imagine the given conditions and narrow down the answer from there.

Instead of picturing a barrel, focus on the sound of the word and think about how to arrive at something that fits the conditions.

If you start from the word ‘taru,’ the range is broad, so it may be easier to first imagine something that shines and then gradually narrow it down toward the word ‘taru.’ An item characterized by light that contains the sound ‘taru’—the answer is ‘hotaru’ (firefly).

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When my grandchild does a handstand, they transform into a certain food. What food is it?

Let’s try a riddle that plays with words.

When a grandchild stands on their head, they transform into a certain food.

What is it? Many of you may be picturing a cute grandchild doing a handstand.

Here’s a hint: it’s a small food often used as a topping.

The key is the word “mago” (grandchild)! The answer is “goma” (sesame).

If you read “mago” backwards, it becomes “goma.” It’s a humorous riddle that expresses reading a word backwards as doing a handstand.

A mosquito falls into a pond and transforms into a certain vegetable. What vegetable is it?

Here’s a riddle about mosquitoes that show up when it gets warm.

A mosquito falls into a pond and turns into a certain vegetable.

What vegetable is it? Of course, in reality a mosquito wouldn’t instantly turn into a vegetable just by falling into a pond, but since it’s a riddle, let’s think flexibly to find the answer! The hint is the sound it makes when it falls into the pond.

The correct answer is “pumpkin.” It’s a playful riddle based on the Japanese wordplay: a mosquito (ka) goes “bocha” (splash) into the pond—ka + bocha = kabocha (pumpkin).

Did you arrive at the answer cleanly?

A dog that speaks Kansai dialect?

It’s a simple puzzle where you think about the word that the two hints have in common.

For example, with hints like “a type of Kansai dialect” and “a breed of dog,” you look for something that matches both, which can also serve as brain training by considering two directions at once.

Even just pronouncing Kansai dialect phrases you remember might help you notice the answer.

The Kansai dialect word “chau,” which means “different” or “not ___,” is often pronounced repetitively, so the answer becomes “Chow Chow.”

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What is a fried bread that you can’t eat?

This is a puzzle where you think of words that fit the conditions by cleverly rephrasing them.

Since there are many edible fried breads in the world, it’s easy to get distracted by food—that’s a tricky point.

The key is to recognize that it’s a riddle and focus on the words themselves.

Separate “fried” (ageru) and “bread” (pan), and consider their meanings and rephrasings.

By rephrasing “to fry” and thinking of bread that’s been fried, the answer is “frying pan” (furai-pan).

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A turtle swimming in miso soup—what kind of turtle is it?

Here’s a riddle about food that will make you crave miso soup.

A turtle swimming in miso soup—what kind of turtle is it? When you think of ingredients for miso soup, what comes to mind? Maybe this is the very first ingredient many people think of.

Of course, it’s not a reptile turtle! The answer is wakame (seaweed).

The word “wakame” contains “kame” (turtle in Japanese), so some of you may have figured it out right away.

Wakame is rich in minerals and dietary fiber, making it a food you’ll want to include in your diet.

What is the “comb” that pokes its head out of the soil sprout by sprout when spring comes?

Alright, let’s take on a riddle that feels satisfying once you know the answer.

What is the “comb” that sprouts up from the soil in the spring? You can see many kinds of plants in spring, but the key here is the word “comb.” The onomatopoeia “nyoki-nyoki” (meaning something sprouting or popping up one after another) is also a clue.

The answer is tsukushi (field horsetail).

Tsukushi is a type of plant seen in spring and is the young shoot of horsetail (sugina).

It’s a classic sign of spring, so many of you may have guessed it right away.