[For Seniors] Nostalgic quizzes that bring back memories! Showa-era entertainment and sports questions

What was the summer women’s clothing that became popular from the late Taisho period to the early Showa period?

The name of the easy-to-throw-on women’s summer garment that was popular from the late Taisho to the early Showa period was “appappa.” It’s said to come from an Osaka dialect word that describes a hem that flares out “pah!” These days, the origins of fashion-related buzzwords are mostly foreign languages, but the fact that this one comes from a domestic dialect really reflects the times, doesn’t it? In 1929 (Showa 4), when Tokyo was hit by its worst heatwave in forty years, the appappa reportedly became wildly popular as well.

My grandmother still calls it an “appappa,” so there might still be people who use the word even now…

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

In 1960 (Showa 35), a revolution occurred in household televisions. What happened to the TV screen?

The revolutionary event that happened to home TVs in 1960 (Showa 35) was the start of color broadcasting! NHK began broadcasting on February 1, 1953 (Showa 28), and commercial stations followed on August 28 of the same year.

After the introduction of remote-control TVs and the downsizing of cathode-ray tubes, color broadcasts finally began in 1960.

At the time, color TVs cost dozens of times a new university graduate’s starting salary—well beyond the reach of ordinary people—but as technology advanced, prices became more affordable.

Looking at photos of old televisions or footage of programs from that era might bring back memories of your younger days.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

On the tables of cafés and eateries in the Showa era, there were small roulette-style vending machines. What kind of vending machines were they?

Back in the Showa era, many coffee shops and eateries had small roulette-style vending machines on their tables.

And what did they dispense? Fortune-telling results! You’d insert a coin and pull the lever, the roulette inside would spin, and a rolled-up slip of paper would come out.

In the late Showa 50s (the late 1970s to early 1980s), thanks to the combined boom of horoscopes and coffee shops, annual production of these mini machines reportedly exceeded 200,000 units.

I even remember seeing them in old Chinese restaurants after the Heisei era began, but nowadays they’ve become a rare sight.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

What was the game that was placed in coffee shops and the like during the Showa era and became a huge craze?

It’s Taito’s shooting game that was displayed on a screen embedded in a table-style cabinet and later expanded to home consoles and handhelds.

The game debuted from Taito in 1978 and was installed in places like cafés.

What was the name of this game? The answer is Space Invaders.

Many people have probably played it themselves or seen students and young people playing it.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hane Keisuke

Report a problem

What is the period called when the economy was strong from the late Showa era to the early Heisei era?

From the late Showa era to the early Heisei era, Japan experienced a period of economic prosperity.

What is this era called, a time when not only business but society as a whole had a unique atmosphere? The hint lies in the nature of the boom itself: a sudden surge in asset values followed by a sharp decline—a boom that burst and vanished.

The answer is the “Bubble Era.” It’s interesting to learn about the fads that rose and disappeared only during this time, and it’s also recommended to look into the companies that built up their strength during this period.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kappamaki

Report a problem