[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! Trivia and Quizzes (1–10)

What is the reason monks strike a wooden fish (mokugyo) when chanting sutras and the like?

The wooden fish drum makes a pleasant pok-pok sound, but what is the original meaning behind monks striking it while chanting sutras? Surprisingly, the answer is “to keep the monks from getting drowsy.” In the past, many monks and trainees would nod off during long recitations, so they used a wooden fish—modeled after a creature that is always keeping its eyes open—to convey the idea: “Keep your eyes open like a fish and devote yourself to practice.” It’s also said that the sound of the wooden fish helps dispel worldly desires.

Next time you have a chance to hear it, try listening with that in mind!

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hiyori

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In the Edo period, what was bush warbler droppings used for?

The bush warbler, which sings beautifully with a “hoo-hokekyo,” had its droppings used for something in the Edo period.

The answer is cosmetics.

In Japan, they had long been used to remove stains from silk fabrics, but by the Edo period they were also used for beauty.

Dried and powdered bush warbler droppings were said to reduce fine wrinkles, refine skin texture, and contain skin-brightening enzymes—and are apparently still used today.

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hiyori

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How far does a hamster run in a day?

I think you often have chances to talk with older adults about the pets they keep at home.

Small hamsters are very popular as pets, aren’t they? They’re adorable, especially the way they move so energetically with their tiny bodies.

Although hamsters are small, they’re very active—they can run about 5 kilometers a day, like marathon runners.

If you spot a hamster running on its wheel in its cage, cheer it on! You might be surprised by how much exercise such a little hamster gets.

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mayumi

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[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Introducing Trivia and Quizzes (11–20)

When you buy convenience store oden in Aichi Prefecture, what is it that you receive?

A topic about convenience store oden! Here’s a fun fact: When you buy convenience store oden in Aichi Prefecture, what do you get? As the weather gets colder, oden becomes more appealing.

In recent years, it’s become easy to buy at convenience stores, so many people—from children to adults—probably feel it’s a familiar comfort food.

And when you purchase convenience store oden in Aichi, it seems you get something extra.

If you think of Aichi’s local specialties and regional cuisine, you might guess it.

The answer is miso.

It’s a great conversation starter about everyone’s hometowns.

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How many new events were added starting with the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games?NEW!

At the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, several new sports were added: baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing.

So the answer is five! Among them, the men’s baseball team and the women’s softball team won gold medals.

In 2026, the Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

At that time, ski mountaineering will be adopted as the only new sport.

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sasashina

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What new sports were added to the 2024 Paris Olympics?NEW!

Paris is a tourist city known for famous historic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, and is also called the “City of Flowers.” The 2024 Olympics marked the third time the Games were held in Paris.

Many people were likely excited to see how art and sports would merge.

A new event added to the Paris Olympics was breaking, a dance sport.

In breaking, Japan’s Ami Yuasa competed and won a gold medal.

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sasashina

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What was the event called in which artworks on sports themes competed for rankings, which once used to be an Olympic discipline?NEW!

Although it is no longer an official event because preserving the quality of artworks and establishing objective scoring criteria are difficult, there used to be competitions in past modern Olympics in which artworks were ranked.

They were called “art competitions.” Japanese participants also took part in the Los Angeles and Berlin Olympics.

Starting with the Helsinki Olympics, instead of a competition, art exhibitions have been included as part of the cultural program, as stipulated by the Olympic Charter.

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sasashina

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