[For Seniors] Prefecture Ranking Quiz: Take on fun, humor-filled questions!

Tokyo Metropolis

Tokyo is known for having an overwhelming number of companies and high-income earners. Many financial institutions and major corporations have their headquarters there, and data show that it has the largest number of households earning 10 million yen or more per year in Japan. The average financial assets per household are also at a high level, and it is said that many asset holders and wealthy individuals live there. A variety of factors—such as the city’s scale and its role as a commercial hub—support the large number of wealthy people in Tokyo.

Aichi Prefecture

According to rankings of the number of temples nationwide, Aichi Prefecture actually has the most temples. This is said to be largely due to the strong religious devotion centered around Nagoya, the historical background of the Warring States period, and the spread of sects such as Jodo-shu and Jodo Shinshu. While Kyoto and Nara are often assumed to have the most, it’s not widely known that Aichi Prefecture is actually number one in Japan.

Ishikawa Prefecture

Ishikawa Prefecture has the highest ice cream consumption in Japan. Centered around Kanazawa City, people in Ishikawa have a habit of eating ice cream even in winter. It is said that this is influenced by a unique local character, such as the warmth of indoor spaces in winter and a culture—common in heavy snowfall areas—of enjoying the contrast between a warm room and cold ice cream. Ice cream is also popular among older adults, and household expenditure surveys have shown Ishikawa consistently ranking near the top for many years.

Miyagi Prefecture

Miyagi Prefecture ranks among the top in Japan for men’s participation in housework and childcare. This is said to be due to the high proportion of dual-income households and a widespread mindset—regardless of gender—of supporting child-rearing as a whole society, resulting in many actively involved fathers. Data from sources such as Sony Life Insurance’s “Lifestyle Awareness Survey 2024” and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ “Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities” also show that men’s time spent on housework and childcare in Miyagi exceeds the national average.

Aichi Prefecture

The surname “Yamada” is very common in Japan, but in fact it is said to be most prevalent in Aichi Prefecture. Centered around Nagoya, Aichi is a major metropolitan area with a large population, and because it has long been a key transportation hub along the Tokaido, it is a place where a wide variety of surnames have tended to gather. Telephone directory surveys nationwide also show that the number of registrations with the surname “Yamada” is markedly higher in Aichi than in other prefectures.

Mie Prefecture

The correct answer is Mie Prefecture. The prefectural capital of Mie is Tsu, and because its name is a single kanji character, it has the shortest name among all prefectural capitals in Japan. Incidentally, most other prefectural capitals have names of two characters or more, and Tsu is the only city with a one-character name.

Akita Prefecture

According to surveys such as those by the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on average sleep duration by prefecture, Akita Prefecture has the longest sleep time. Many residents of Akita tend to sleep for about eight hours or more, and it is believed that their relatively regular daily routines and a relaxed living environment—with abundant nature and hot springs—contribute to this.