[For Seniors] Brain Training! Recall Quiz Collection!
“What was that again…?” “I can picture it, but I can’t remember the name…” That kind of thing happens all the time in daily life, right?
I’m sure it’s something people experience regardless of age.
In this article, we’ll introduce recall quizzes for older adults!
It might turn into one of those fuzzy quizzes where you know it but can’t quite say it—like Showa-era pop songs, sightseeing spots, or snack names.
Feel free to use them as recreation activities in day-service and other care facilities.
That refreshing feeling when you finally remember—“Ahh, that’s it!”—is unbeatable, isn’t it?
Enjoy thinking together and give your brain a good workout!
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[For Seniors] Brain Training! Memory Recall Quiz Collection! (41–50)
What is the reason monks strike a wooden fish (mokugyo) when chanting sutras and the like?
The wooden fish drum makes a pleasant pok-pok sound, but what is the original meaning behind monks striking it while chanting sutras? Surprisingly, the answer is “to keep the monks from getting drowsy.” In the past, many monks and trainees would nod off during long recitations, so they used a wooden fish—modeled after a creature that is always keeping its eyes open—to convey the idea: “Keep your eyes open like a fish and devote yourself to practice.” It’s also said that the sound of the wooden fish helps dispel worldly desires.
Next time you have a chance to hear it, try listening with that in mind!
[For Seniors] Brain Training! Recall Quiz Collection! (51–60)
In general, what is August 13, the start of Obon, called?
While the timing and customs of Obon can vary by region, it generally begins on August 13.
What is August 13, the start of Obon, called? The answer is “Mukae-bon,” which literally means welcoming the ancestors—an easy term to understand if you think of it as a ceremony to receive and honor them.
The idea is to prepare offerings that warmly welcome your ancestors and celebrate their return.
It’s also good to know about the practice of lighting fires to guide them, called “Mukae-bi” (welcoming fires).
Who is the only Japanese deity among the Seven Lucky Gods?
The Seven Lucky Gods are revered as deities of fortune.
They are a collective term for seven gods: Ebisu, Daikokuten, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Hotei, Jurōjin, and Benzaiten.
But which one is the only Japanese god among them? The answer is Ebisu.
Worshiped as the god of fishing, prosperous business, and bountiful harvests, Ebisu is said to be the third child of the deities Izanami and Izanagi.
Incidentally, Daikokuten and Benzaiten have roots in Hinduism; Bishamonten comes from ancient India; and Fukurokuju, Jurōjin, and Hotei are of Chinese origin—surprisingly global, isn’t it?
What is the name of the event, mainly held in Nagasaki and Saga prefectures, in which the spirits of ancestors and Obon offerings are placed on a boat and floated down a river?
One interesting aspect of the traditional Japanese custom of Obon is that the events vary by region.
Among these Obon events, what is the name of the ceremony, practiced mainly in Nagasaki and Saga Prefectures, in which ancestors’ spirits and Obon offerings are placed on boats and sometimes actually set adrift down a river? The answer is “Shōrō-nagashi” (Spirit Boat Procession).
Because of Masashi Sada’s hit song, it is often associated with a fleeting, melancholy image, but in reality it’s a lively event.
The boats are gorgeously decorated with family crests and lanterns, and the finale echoes with the loud crackle of firecrackers—an event that truly stirs the emotions.
The 24 solar terms divide the year on Earth into 24 parts based on the seasons and climate. What is the term for the time in late autumn when the first frost appears?
Do you know the 24 solar terms? The 24 solar terms are like a calendar that divides the year.
First, the seasons are split into spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and then each season is further divided into six periods according to the weather.
The beginning of autumn is called Risshū, and the period when the summer heat begins to ease is called Shosho.
Here’s a question: How do we describe the time when the first frost falls? The correct answer is Sōkō.
It’s read “kōsō,” and it specifically refers to around October 24.
It might be fun to compare the traditional solar-term calendar with today’s calendar to see where we are right now.
There are four prefecture names that contain the names of animals. Which ones are they?
This is a simple quiz where you think of prefecture names that include animal names.
You probably know all of these places, so the key is how quickly the prefecture names come to mind.
If you go through them in order, you should be able to arrive at some of them, but if you get stuck, use each area as a hint.
The answers are Gunma, Tottori, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima.
It could be fun to reminisce about your memories of each place as well.
Besides salt, what seasoning, when sprinkled on a slug, would make it shrink?
Slugs that appear on rainy days.
Everyone knows they shrivel up when you sprinkle salt on them.
In fact, there’s another seasoning that makes them shrink when sprinkled: sugar.
The mechanism is the same as with salt—water is drawn out of the slug’s body.
However, with sugar it’s said to take about six times longer to fully shrivel than with salt.
If you want to learn more, check out videos of actual experiments.
That said, it does feel a bit sad.