[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Health Trivia Quiz

From a TV drama in 1958 (Showa 33), the hero ○○ Kamen appeared. This hero, who was popular among children at the time, is which ‘-Kamen’?

Speaking of heroes born from television dramas in 1958 (Showa 33), it has to be Gekko Kamen, who enjoyed overwhelming popularity among children at the time! Known as the pioneer of Japanese hero shows, its style—combining period-drama elements with detective storytelling—is said to have had a major influence on the hero programs that followed.

Gekko Kamen is a champion of justice who gallantly appears on a white motorcycle and fights evil organizations alongside the police.

It’s said that, inspired by this image, people later began calling police motorcycle units “Gekko Kamen.”

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

The Showa-era phrase “Atama ga 〇〇 ni naru” means “I have so much to think about that my brain won’t work.” What sea creature goes in the 〇〇?

The word that meant “a state where you have so much to think about that your brain won’t work,” which was popular around 1983 (Showa 58), is “Atama ga uni ni naru” (my head turns into sea urchin)! It’s a metaphor comparing a confused, jumbled mental state to soft sea urchin that collapses easily when pressure is applied.

You hardly hear it nowadays, and on the internet it’s called something like “a really nostalgic expression.” Indeed, cracking open a sea urchin does somehow evoke the inside of a human brain… There are plenty of other Showa-era buzzwords that aren’t used anymore, too! Just those alone could make for a solid Showa quiz.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

Who was the last prime minister of the Showa era?

Speaking of the last Prime Minister of the Showa era, it was the 74th, Noboru Takeshita.

During the Takeshita Cabinet, which lasted from November 6, 1987 (Showa 62) to June 3, 1989 (Heisei 1), policies that would greatly influence Japan’s future were implemented, such as the introduction of the consumption tax and the liberalization of U.S.-Japan trade.

In recent years, his grandson, the singer DAIGO, has been very active on variety shows and elsewhere! Some older viewers may have seen him nostalgically share stories about Mr.

Takeshita, beginning with “My grandpa…” Since some people are sensitive about political topics, when presenting this as a quiz, keep it strictly as a name-guessing game and maintain a lighthearted tone.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

What percentage was the consumption tax during the Showa era?

It sounds like a trick question, but it’s about the consumption tax in the Showa era.

Although the consumption tax has been increasing year by year, in fact, there was no consumption tax during the Showa period.

So the answer to this quiz is that the consumption tax had not yet been introduced.

Japan first introduced the consumption tax on April 1, 1989, the first year of the Heisei era.

At the time of introduction it was 3 percent, and it was later raised to 5 percent, 8 percent, and then 10 percent.

Today, the consumption tax is taken for granted, but when it was introduced there was strong public backlash, and it is said that protest movements also occurred.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

What products disappeared from supermarkets during the first oil crisis?

It was during the first oil shock in 1973 that certain products vanished from supermarket shelves.

The answer is toilet paper—but why did it disappear? The cause of the oil shock, as the term suggests, was the surge in crude oil prices.

A war that broke out in the Middle East at the time led to price hikes and embargoes on crude oil.

As a result, oil prices reportedly quadrupled in just three months, dealing a major blow to the Japanese economy.

Back then, heavy oil was used as fuel to dissolve dried raw materials in the process of manufacturing toilet paper.

This led to fears that if crude oil prices soared, the supply of toilet paper would run out.

Those concerns are thought to have triggered panic buying of toilet paper.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

Who was the first recipient of the People’s Honor Award?

A superstar everyone knows! Here’s a trivia tidbit: Who was the very first recipient of the People’s Honour Award? To start with, do you know what the People’s Honour Award is? It’s an award presented by the Prime Minister to individuals or organizations whose outstanding achievements have earned the admiration of the public and given society hope.

The first recipient was Sadaharu Oh.

As a legendary hitter in professional baseball, Sadaharu Oh is still beloved by the public.

With his unique one-legged batting stance, he captivated many fans and was a star who led Japanese baseball for many years.

In 1970 (Showa 45), the local call charge for public telephones became 10 yen for 3 minutes. What had the pricing structure been like before that?

Public telephones used to be essential for making calls while out and about, but as time has gone on, we see them less and less.

Because opportunities to use them have decreased, many of us may no longer have a clear sense of the cost, but the rate is set at 10 yen for three minutes.

That “10 yen for three minutes” rate was introduced in 1970; before that, the pricing was different.

So what was the rate before 1970? The answer is “10 yen per call.” As long as you paid 10 yen, there was no time limit—your call would stay connected without worrying about the duration.

It’s worth noting the anecdote that many people would monopolize the phone for long periods because of this.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem