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

At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the women’s volleyball team won the gold medal. Based on their performance, what were they called as the “something of the Orient”?

The answer is “The Oriental Witches.” Three years before they won the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, a corporate team called Nichibō Kaizuka, which formed the core of Japan’s national team at the time, toured Europe and achieved a streak of consecutive victories against national teams.

A local sports paper ran the headline “Witches in the Orient,” which Japanese media rephrased as “The Oriental Witches,” and that’s said to be the origin of the nickname.

The Oriental Witches kept on winning even after their Tokyo Olympic gold, extending their winning streak to 258 matches.

At the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964, a rakugo storyteller ran as a torchbearer. Who was that rakugo performer?

One highlight of the Olympic torch relay is that a wide variety of people run, including athletes and celebrities.

At the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964 (Showa 39), a certain rakugo storyteller ran as a torchbearer.

Who was it? Here’s a hint: a long-beloved rakugo performer you often see on TV—someone who might not fit the strict image of representing the nation.

The answer is “Sanyutei Koyuza.” At the time, he didn’t run as a rakugo performer; he was selected as a torchbearer as a high school table tennis player.

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kappamaki

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Among Yukio Hashi, Hideki Saijo, and Kazuo Funaki, who is not one of the “Gosanke” (the ‘Big Three’?)

Among Yukio Hashi, Hideki Saijo, and Kazuo Funaki, who is not part of the “Gosanke” (the Big Three)? The hint is the period when each was active: the Gosanke are generally associated with making a big impact around the mid-1960s.

The answer is Hideki Saijo.

The Gosanke refers to Yukio Hashi, Kazuo Funaki, and Teruhiko Saigō.

Hideki Saijo was mainly active in the 1970s and, alongside Hiromi Go and Goro Noguchi—who were active in the same era—was known as part of the “Shin Gosanke” (the New Big Three).

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kappamaki

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What is the name of the hugely popular British band that first came to Japan in 1966 (Showa 41)?

Even if you’re not well-versed in music, you’ve probably heard of them at least once: the legendary band, The Beatles.

They came to Japan in 1966 and performed at the Nippon Budokan.

The concerts, held over three days, are unforgettable for many.

The fervor of young people at the time was so intense it became news.

If you were able to attend, you had a truly rare experience.

Although The Beatles effectively disbanded in 1970, their music still remains in the hearts of many people today.

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sasashina

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Bowling is now played with ten pins, but the number was different in the past. How many pins were there?

Bowling is said to have existed in ancient Egypt, but the number and arrangement of pins varied.

Later, it was standardized to place nine pins in a diamond shape, similar to today’s setup.

As “ninepins,” it became popular in the United States as well.

However, because it was used for gambling, a law was enacted that “prohibits ninepins bowling.” In response, the idea arose that using ten pins would not violate the law, and that’s how ten-pin bowling was born.

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Nakajima Junko

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