[For Seniors] Laugh-Out-Loud, Crowd-Pleasing! Fun Quiz

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Work experience in a hospital as a physical therapistNakamū
I worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital for about four years. I’ve supported a wide range of patients, from those needing emergency rehabilitation to those doing rehabilitation at home at a comfortable pace. As a writer, I’d be happy to share health-related information with many people. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you!

Quick wits matter! We bring you laugh-out-loud brain teasers and riddles that make you blurt out “Ahh!” or “I see!” the moment you get the answer or someone tells you the correct one.

There are plenty of riddles that are friendly and familiar for seniors, too.

If the answer doesn’t come easily, try thinking it through with the people around you, or offer small hints to guide everyone toward the solution.

Those “almost got it, but not quite” questions give your brain a great workout.

Enjoy a delightful time that brings a little chuckle and a smile the moment the answer clicks.

Showa-era retro and nostalgic goods (11–20)

What was the summer women’s clothing that became popular from the late Taisho period to the early Showa period?

The name of the easy-to-throw-on women’s summer garment that was popular from the late Taisho to the early Showa period was “appappa.” It’s said to come from an Osaka dialect word that describes a skirt flaring out with a “pah.” These days, most fashion-related buzzwords trace their origins to foreign languages, so you can really feel the change of the times in the fact that this one comes from a domestic dialect.

In 1929, when Tokyo was hit by its worst heat wave in 40 years, the appappa also became wildly popular.

My grandmother still calls it an “appappa,” so there may still be people who use the term even now…

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yuri

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What was the cheap candy where you’d get another one if the tip of the toothpick was red?

The candy shop was a relaxing hangout for kids—a place where you could enjoy your favorite treats without breaking the bank.

One of its charms was a system where, if you got a “winner,” you could exchange it for the same item.

There were various ways to show a winning ticket, but among them, which candy was the one where you’d win if the tip of the toothpick was red? The answer is kinako-bō (soybean flour sticks).

Since they’re small and easy to eat, some people might have ended up eating too many while chasing a win.

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kappamaki

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What do you call the snack made by puffing rice under pressure?

Puffed rice snacks are made by pressurizing rice and then rapidly depressurizing it.

For some older adults, the word “popped rice” may bring back memories of festivals or events where a loud boom signaled the moment the snack was made.

While rice is the main ingredient, some regions also make it with barley, buckwheat, corn, or ginkgo nuts.

The name for this snack also varies by region.

Asking older adults what it’s called in their hometown could make for an even livelier conversation.

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Nakajima Junko

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What does the “punch” in a punch perm refer to?

This may seem sudden, but what exactly does the “punch” in “punch perm” mean? The answer is: it’s the name of a magazine called Heibon Punch.

The punch perm, a short hairstyle with tight, firm curls, was devised by a barber in Kitakyushu in the 1970s.

A barber-supply company in the Kansai region then named it “punch perm,” borrowing the name from the hugely popular magazine Heibon Punch at the time.

With its intimidating look and the fact that it doesn’t lose shape easily even in a fight, the punch perm became especially popular among tough-looking types.

Fittingly, its origin story packs a punch too!

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hiyori

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In what language is the word “pom-pom,” which is used for cheering?

What language is the origin of the word “pom-pom,” used as a cheering item at events like sports days? The answer is French; it is said to derive from “pompon,” meaning a tuft with a rounded end.

Invented as a cheering accessory in the 1930s, pom-poms were made of paper at the time and couldn’t be used in bad weather—details that convey the history they’ve accumulated.

By learning that history properly, we may grow more attached to the everyday items used at events.

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kappamaki

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The current alarm clock runs on batteries, but what do you think powered them in the Showa era?

We tend to think that everyday furniture and appliances have simply become more stylish over time, but the functions they offer have actually undergone all kinds of changes as well.

Focusing on one essential item—alarm clocks—how did they work back in the Showa era? Not just alarms, but what kinds of power sources did clocks have? If you imagine how old machines worked, some of you might already guess the answer.

The answer is: spring-wound.

While such models have become less common, the technology hasn’t disappeared.

This might be a good chance to go looking for one.

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kappamaki

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What sport was popular in the 1970s thanks to the success of players like Kayoko Suda and Ritsuko Nakayama?

Speaking of the sport that sparked a huge boom centered in Tokyo in the 1970s, it’s bowling! Ritsuko Nakayama, Kayoko Suda, and Rie Ishii, who were immensely popular as beautiful professional bowlers, were known as the “Flower Trio,” and, unusually for athletes, continued their careers while appearing on seven regular weekly TV programs.

With its simple rule—roll the ball and knock down the pins—bowling has long been loved by people of all ages.

Some of you might fondly recall how obsessed you were with it in your younger days.

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yuri

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