[For Seniors] Perfect for Brain Training! Themed Hiragana Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz

banana

Native to Southeast Asia, this tropical fruit is hugely popular with both children and adults. In Japan, people mostly eat sweet bananas that have ripened to yellow, but in many countries, including those in Central and South America and Southeast Asia, so-called cooking bananas that are eaten after heating are widely consumed.

helicopter

Because they can take off and land without using a runway, they are used in a variety of situations such as lifesaving, news reporting, sightseeing flights, and agriculture. Incidentally, the word “helicopter” comes from Latin-derived roots, combining “heliko,” meaning spiral, and “pter,” meaning wing.

charger

As electronic devices have increased, the frequency of using chargers has also gone up, hasn’t it? Do most people use them mainly for charging their smartphones? It’s one of the indispensable tools in our daily lives, isn’t it?

washing machine

Many of you may remember that in the early years of the Showa 30s (mid-1950s), electric washing machines, electric refrigerators, and black-and-white televisions began to spread and were called the “three sacred treasures.” Today, they’re among the household appliances that every home can’t do without.

ferry

Because ferries can carry your car onboard and transport it with you to your destination, you can relax overnight in a hotel-like cabin and then drive off in your familiar vehicle upon arrival. Enjoying an unhurried voyage while gazing out at the open sea offers a charm that’s distinct from high-speed travel by airplane or train.

matsutake (pine mushroom)

It grows in many regions around the world, particularly where Japanese red pines are abundant. However, as pine forests that serve as its habitats have been declining globally in recent years, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) designated it as an endangered species in July 2020. In Japan, it is considered a high-end edible mushroom, but outside Japan it is often regarded as having an unpleasant smell.

Shinkansen

Japan’s Shinkansen are regarded as world-class for their speed, safety, and punctuality. Japan’s distinctive features include a complex terrain and a wide variety of climates—from the cold of the northern regions to the humidity of the southernmost areas. In addition, seismic activity is frequent, and the technologies have been developed amid these diverse challenges.