[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Trivia and Quizzes Introduced

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.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

Have you ever found it hard to keep a conversation going with an older adult, or wondered what to talk about?

At times like that, why not incorporate some fun trivia into your communication?

It can liven up the conversation, help you learn things you didn’t know before, and make for an enjoyable time together.

There’s trivia that feels familiar to older adults, as well as tidbits with surprising answers.

Trivia quizzes are also great as ideas for recreational activities.

They can be done while seated and are suitable for all genders, so many people can enjoy them.

Quizzes stimulate the brain and can help prevent dementia or slow its progression.

Try incorporating trivia quizzes while having fun!

[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Introducing Trivia and Quizzes (121–130)

What is the reason your head gets an intense, sharp pain when you eat cold things like ice or ice cream?

Many older adults have probably experienced that sharp, piercing headache after eating shaved ice or ice cream on a hot summer day.

But why does that happen? It’s puzzling, isn’t it? The short answer is: it’s your brain being fooled! When something cold passes through your throat, the brain mistakes the cold sensation for pain.

This phenomenon even has a name: “ice cream headache.” On hot days you might want to gobble things down to feel the chill quickly, but eating slowly and calmly can help prevent it!

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SAKI

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Fabric softener used in laundry. It can be substituted with another item found at home—what is it?

Have you ever realized you ran out of fabric softener after starting the laundry? It can be quite a hassle.

In such cases, you can substitute hair rinse or conditioner.

They contain ingredients that make fabrics feel soft and fluffy.

However, be careful not to pour them directly into the dispenser, as they can clog it.

Dissolve them in hot water before use.

Also note that ingredients and fragrances vary by product.

So, it’s best to avoid running out of fabric softener if possible.

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yamamoto

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Why do ocean waves occur?

Suddenly, but do you know why ocean waves occur? It’s fascinating that waves keep happening everywhere, all the time.

The answer is surprisingly simple: because the wind blows.

When you blow on water in a bucket, the surface ripples, right? It’s the same principle.

You might be thinking, “But there are waves even when there’s no wind.” That’s because waves generated by winds far away travel to where you are.

A romantic little quiz that lets you feel the vastness of the ocean.

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yamamoto

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Hokkaido has the longest coastline of any prefecture, but which one is second?

Nagasaki Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
Okinawa Prefecture

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Nagasaki Prefecture (Japan’s Coastline Length | Japan Maritime Public Relations Association）

Because Hokkaido is so large, it’s easy to imagine that it has a long coastline. Nagasaki, however, doesn’t have a strong image of size, so its coastline length might come as a surprise. The reason for its long coastline is the large number of islands—about 40 in total, including Tsushima and Iki. You could say it’s a prefecture that has developed alongside the sea, with each of these islands being popular tourist destinations.

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kappamaki

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[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Introducing Trivia and Quizzes (131–140)

What is the source of tears?

When we’re sad, happy, or deeply moved.

Older adults who have lived long lives have shed all kinds of tears, haven’t they? So what exactly are tears to begin with? Because they look like clear water, we tend to assume they’re just the body’s fluids, but that’s not actually the case.

Here’s a hint: it’s something even older adults have definitely seen before, and it isn’t transparent.

The answer is blood! Tears are said to flow after components like hemoglobin—the red parts—are removed from the blood, which is why they don’t appear red but come out clear.

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SAKI

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What is the term for an older sister on the father’s side or the mother’s side?

aunt
aunt (father’s older sister)

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aunt (father’s older sister)

There may not be many people who clearly understand and use the difference between “伯母” and “叔母.” The answer is that 伯母 refers to an older sister of one of your parents, while 叔母 refers to a younger sister of one of your parents. If you memorize just one of them, you can easily recall the other by association!

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utatane

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These days, “ganmodoki” is made with tofu, but in the past a different ingredient was used. What ingredient was it?

When you hear “ganmodoki,” most people only think of tofu, but what on earth was it originally made from? Here are some hints: it’s a food that’s still commonly eaten today, it’s made from a processed tuber, and it’s often used as a prop for test-of-courage events.

The answer is konnyaku (konjac)! It was originally eaten as part of shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and through adding various ingredients and experimenting with seasonings, it eventually evolved into the tofu-based ganmodoki we know today.

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SAKI

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