[For Seniors] June Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts: A Set of Multiple-Choice Quizzes to Enjoy During the Rainy Season
June in Japan is the rainy season, so we often have a string of gloomy, unsettled days.
At the same time, though, it’s also when plums are harvested and hydrangeas are in full bloom, and we observe occasions like Father’s Day and the Nagoshi no Harae purification—seasonal plants and events unique to this time of year.
In this article, we’ll present trivia and fun facts related to June in a quiz format.
See how many you can get right, and enjoy taking on the challenge together!
If you come across any facts you didn’t know, take this opportunity to remember them and share them with your family and friends!
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[For Seniors] June Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts. A set of three-choice quizzes perfect for the rainy season (41–50)
What kind of weather does a ‘fox’s wedding’ refer to?
Many people may have heard the phrase “kitsune no yomeiri.” There are various theories about it, but kitsune no yomeiri is a weather term that refers to the phenomenon of rain falling even though the sky is clear.
It’s said that the strangeness of rain falling under a blue, sunny sky led people to liken it to being tricked by a fox, hence the name.
It is also known as “kitsune no yometori” or “kitsune no yometori-ame.”
[For Seniors] June Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts: A Set of Multiple-Choice Quizzes Perfect for the Rainy Season (51–60)
What will the weather be like when tree frogs croak?
It is said that when tree frogs croak, rain is coming, and this is thought to be related to their cutaneous respiration.
In addition to using their lungs, frogs also perform “cutaneous respiration,” taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide through their skin.
Because carbon dioxide passes easily through the skin, higher humidity makes cutaneous respiration more active, which is thought to make them croak more often.
For these reasons, it came to be said that tree frogs croak when rain is approaching.
However, they often croak even when it doesn’t end up raining, so if you hear tree frogs, try checking whether it really does rain!
Which has more ribs, a Japanese umbrella (wagasa) or a Western-style umbrella?
The answer is a wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella).
The ribs that spread out radially when you open an umbrella are called “oya-bone” (main ribs).
While a typical Western umbrella has eight main ribs, a wagasa has at least sixteen and can have around fifty.
The number of main ribs in a wagasa varies with the umbrella’s size, but many are used to firmly support the washi paper.
By the way, Western umbrellas are generally made from synthetic materials like vinyl or polyester; although they have only eight main ribs, the fabric is kept taut by the strength of the wire frame.
What ingredient is traditionally eaten in the Kansai region on the summer solstice?
- octopus
- eel
- pumpkin
See the answer
octopus
In some parts of the Kansai region, there’s a custom of eating octopus on the summer solstice. The reason is related to rice planting. Around the time of the summer solstice, it coincides with the rice-planting season. Because an octopus has eight legs, people imbue it with wishes such as “May the rice take firm root like an octopus’s legs” and “May the rice grow ears like the octopus’s eight legs.” The Kansai region also has a deep connection with octopus, and many octopus pots used for octopus fishing have been unearthed from Yayoi-period archaeological sites.
What color rose is considered good to give for Father’s Day?
- red
- yellow
- white
See the answer
yellow
The third Sunday in June is Father’s Day. Some older people may have the chance to receive gifts on Father’s Day. One item sometimes given along with a gift is a yellow rose. The reason for giving yellow roses on Father’s Day traces back to an episode involving Mrs. Dodd of the United States, who proposed Father’s Day. Mrs. Dodd offered a white rose at her own father’s grave, and that custom made its way to Japan. The shift from white roses to yellow roses is connected to the Father’s Day Yellow Ribbon Campaign organized by the Japan Father’s Day Committee. The yellow ribbon embodies the image color of Father’s Day, conveying a family’s love and respect. As this blended with the custom of giving roses on Father’s Day, it became common to give yellow roses.
What color is a red pickled plum before it’s dried?
Harvesting of ume plums begins around the start of the rainy season.
Ume can be processed into many things, such as umeboshi (pickled plums), umeshu (plum liqueur), and honey-preserved plums.
There are two types of plums used for processing: green unripe plums and fully ripe plums, distinguished by the time they are picked.
The red umeboshi are made from fully ripe yellow plums with soft flesh.
The other type is the firm green plums harvested before they ripen, which are suitable for umeshu or crunchy pickled plums.
In fact, both fully ripe plums and green plums contain toxic components.
As the fruit ripens, these toxins decrease, and once the plums are processed—by drying or pickling—they become safe to eat.
What will the weather be like when contrails linger for a long time?
When you look up at the sky, you sometimes see thin white streaks lingering behind airplanes.
These are called contrails—long, narrow white clouds that form after an airplane passes.
Sometimes contrails remain in the upper sky for a long time, and when they do, it’s said that rain may be on the way.
The reason is that when a low-pressure system is approaching from the west, the upper air is moist, making contrails slower to evaporate.
As a low-pressure system approaches, the weather tends to deteriorate.
Conversely, if contrails disappear quickly, it likely means the weather won’t worsen anytime soon.