[For Seniors] Iwate Prefecture Local Quiz: 3-choice questions to learn trivia about food, notable figures, and place names

second

The correct answer is “the second.” Hokkaido is the largest prefecture in Japan by area, but Iwate is the next largest and ranks first in size within Honshu. Its area extends to about 15,275 square kilometers, making it vast enough to nearly equal the combined area of the four prefectures of Shikoku.

Takuboku Ishikawa

Takuboku Ishikawa was a representative poet of the Meiji era, born in Hito Village, Minami-Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture. His first tanka collection, “A Handful of Sand,” contains many celebrated poems composed in a distinctive three-line style, expressing the hardships of his life such as poverty and illness, as well as his feelings for his hometown, Shibutami Village. Although he died young at the age of 26, he remains a leading literary figure of Iwate and continues to be loved by many people to this day.

Kenji Miyazawa

The correct answer is “Kenji Miyazawa.” His fairy tales, beginning with Night on the Galactic Railroad, as well as The Restaurant of Many Orders and Matasaburo of the Wind, and his famous poem Be Not Defeated by the Rain, continue to be loved across generations. He was a local luminary not only for his literary activities but also for founding the Rasu Farmers Association and dedicating himself passionately to agricultural guidance.

Southern Katafuji

The correct answer is “Nanbu Katafuji.” Mount Iwate, the highest peak in Iwate Prefecture at 2,038 meters, is affectionately known by this nickname for its majestic appearance. Depending on the viewing angle, it can look like the well-proportioned shape of Mount Fuji, yet appear missing on one side, which is why it is called this.

Kitakami River

The Kitakami River is a Class A river that originates from the “Yumiya-no-Izumi” spring in Iwate Town, Iwate Prefecture, flows south through the center of the prefecture, and empties into Ishinomaki Bay in Miyagi Prefecture. It has a total length of 249 kilometers, making it the longest in the Tohoku region and the fourth longest in Japan. Since ancient times, it has served as a major artery for water transport, and its basin is home to expansive, fertile farmlands.

Nanbu senbei

The correct answer is “Nanbu senbei.” It is a traditional confection from Iwate Prefecture made primarily from wheat flour and baked with additions such as sesame seeds, walnuts, or peanuts. In the former Nambu Domain region, it has long been cherished as a preserved food. The portions that spill out of the mold during baking are called “mimi,” known for their distinctive texture. Recently, various variations have appeared, including ones topped with squid or apple, and others coated with chocolate.

Maesawa beef

The correct answer is “Maesawa beef.” This is a brand of Japanese Black cattle carefully raised in the Maesawa area of Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, and it’s one of Japan’s premier wagyu brands, so highly regarded that it’s said, “Matsusaka in the west, Maesawa in the east.” Its hallmarks are the finely marbled, beautiful fat, the sweet richness that melts the moment it touches your tongue, and its deep umami. Only cattle that meet strict certification standards can bear this name, and it offers an exquisite taste in dishes like steak, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu.