[For Seniors] Fun and Informative! Health Trivia Quiz

In club activities and PE classes, there was something that was prohibited during the Showa era. What was it?

These days, staying hydrated is recommended to prevent heatstroke, but what was it like in the Showa era? Unlike today, during the Showa period drinking fluids was prohibited during club activities and PE classes.

It seems there were fewer days of extreme heat than we have now, but you still need fluids when you’re physically active, right? Back then, people would say things like drinking water shows a lack of mental toughness, or that taking in fluids would make you tire out.

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Nakajima Junko

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What was the staple food in school lunches during the Showa era?

In the past, bread was often served as the staple food in school lunches.

Reasons included the large quantities of wheat among postwar relief supplies and the strengthening of training for bakers.

Furthermore, for several years after the war, it was difficult to obtain rice that could be allocated for school lunches, so bread was frequently provided as the main staple in school meals.

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Nakajima Junko

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What were the three items—black-and-white television, washing machine, and refrigerator—that became widespread in the early 1950s collectively called?

Looking at Japan in the postwar years of the Showa era, it was a time when technology and culture developed rapidly.

The household appliances that became symbols of Japan’s growth and spread in the early Showa 25s (around 1950) were the black-and-white television, the washing machine, and the refrigerator—what were these three collectively called? Since all of these appliances are related to daily life, they came to be valued as indispensable for everyday living.

The answer is the “Three Sacred Treasures.” As time went on, a new set of Three Sacred Treasures with a different lineup also emerged.

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kappamaki

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In the Showa era, a certain behavior was commonplace on trains. What is that behavior that is now prohibited?

Everyday scenery changes as time goes by, and it’s common for sights we once took for granted to disappear.

Let’s think about how behavior on trains has changed, recalling what things looked like back then.

If you imagine what became more strictly regulated over time—something almost everyone used to do—you might figure out the answer.

The answer is smoking.

There was a time when people could smoke not only on platforms and inside train cars, but practically anywhere.

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kappamaki

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What meat was considered a staple in school lunches during the Showa era?

Whales were once everyday food.

In Japan, a country surrounded by the sea, whales were used as a source of meat.

For that reason, from the late 1950s through the 1960s (the Showa 30s and 40s), school lunches also featured whale-based dishes.

In particular, whale Tatsuta-age (deep-fried, soy-marinated whale) seems to have been served at many schools.

Whale meat, which is highly nutritious, was an important food that helped make up for nutritional deficiencies.

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Nakajima Junko

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What is the gesture or action people do when they are happy or celebrating to lift their spirits?

When you move your body in sync with feelings of joy and happiness, it can make you feel even brighter and may even contribute to your health.

So what is the indispensable action for celebrations that also helps lift your spirits? It’s a traditional gesture in Japan, so just picturing a celebratory scene with a group might help you guess.

The answer is “banzai,” the motion of raising both hands along with the shout.

It’s a good idea to focus not only on the feeling but also on the vocalization and arm movement.

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kappamaki

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From the late 1950s to the 1960s in the Showa era, a certain indoor sport became extremely popular. What sport was it?

The sport in question—many older people might say they used to play it often, especially with the recent boom—what could it be? Here are some hints: it’s a sport that uses a heavy ball, and you throw that ball toward a specific target.

The answer is bowling! At the time, there were over 3,500 bowling alleys nationwide, and many people owned their own shoes and balls.

Numerous star players emerged as well, such as Kayoko Suda and Ritsuko Nakayama.

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SAKI

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