[For Seniors] Fun and Informative Trivia Quiz Collection

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.

There may be older adults who are spending monotonous days.

So this time, we’ll introduce some useful trivia quizzes that will make you think, “I see!”

You can use them as brain training by asking the questions, and they’re also fun to bring up in casual conversations with seniors.

Because they spark interest easily, they’re likely to be a hit as a recreational activity, too!

With trivia quizzes, you can hear the answers and gain new knowledge.

People often feel like sharing the trivia they’ve learned with others, which can naturally encourage communication.

[For Seniors] Interesting and Educational Trivia Quiz Collection (71–80)

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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One high-end ingredient that represents autumn in Japan is described as having a “smell trapped in leather shoes,” and it isn’t commonly eaten in the West. What is this luxury ingredient?

As autumn is known for whetting the appetite, many delicious foods that boost our cravings come into season.

Starting with rice, there are also Pacific saury, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, pears, and grapes, but the true king of autumn flavors is undoubtedly matsutake mushrooms.

As a luxury ingredient, matsutake aren’t something we can easily enjoy every day, and their greatest allure lies in their uniquely sweet aroma.

This fragrance is said to stimulate the appetite and have a calming effect, and in recent years, it has reportedly been found to be potentially effective in helping prevent cancer.

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It’s said that when a certain bird flies low, it will rain. Which bird is it?

There’s a weather proverb that says, “When a certain bird flies low, it’s going to rain.” What is that bird? The answer is the swallow.

The reason is that winged insects like flies and mosquitoes, which swallows feed on, have heavier wings when humidity rises as a low-pressure system approaches, so they can’t fly high.

Swallows fly low to chase them.

Although we can now get highly accurate forecasts thanks to the latest technology, it’s nice to occasionally watch animal behavior and the sky to predict the weather.

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hiyori

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Autumn is when delicious new rice is harvested. What is the most widely produced rice variety in Japan?

Autumn is also the rice harvest season.

So here’s a question: Which rice variety is produced the most in Japan? The correct answer is Koshihikari.

It’s a famous variety that everyone knows.

There are three main reasons for this.

First, it’s resistant to cold.

Second, it’s delicious and highly popular.

Third, it’s suitable for long-term storage.

However, although Koshihikari may seem perfect, it actually has a weakness: it’s vulnerable to wind and disease.

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yamamoto

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What unit is used when counting omamori (Japanese protective charms)?

When counting omamori (protective charms), what counter do we use? The answer is “tai.” Instead of saying “one piece” or “two,” you read them as “ittai, nitai.” The reason is that omamori are considered embodiments of the deities.

Come to think of it, the places that offer omamori are labeled “juyosho” (place of conferral), not “hanbaisho” (sales counter).

By the way, deities themselves are counted as “hitoshibashira, futashibashira” (1 pillar, 2 pillars), and mikoshi (portable shrines), being the deities’ vehicles, are counted as “ikki, nikki” (1 unit, 2 units).

Knowing these counters can make you feel a solemn, sacred sense that you are being granted a share of the deity’s power.

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hiyori

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What is the plant that is said to be essential for Obon and whose shape resembles a Bon lantern?

What is the plant said to be inseparable from Obon and whose shape resembles a Bon lantern? The answer is “hōzuki” (Chinese lantern plant).

Its distinctive look—fruit encased in a soft calyx—is quite striking.

The red or orange color of the calyx and fruit also evokes the light of a lantern, and their gentle hues can even feel a bit eerie.

Beyond being a symbol of Obon, it is also associated with traditional medicinal uses, and its unique colors and shape have long imparted a sense of mystery in historical accounts.

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kappamaki

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The shelf used to display ancestral tablets and offerings during Obon is called a “bon-dana.” What is its other name?

Obon is a time when we welcome and honor our ancestors, and one of its distinctive features is the various decorations, beginning with the offerings.

The shelf used to display these indispensable Obon offerings is called a “bon-dana,” but what else is it called? The answer is “shōryō-dana.” Since many Obon-related decorations and events include the word “shōryō” (spirit), this name is easy to picture.

From this, you can also sense that ancestors are referred to as “shōryō,” which may deepen the feeling that they are sacred.

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kappamaki

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