[For Seniors] Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts About the Rainy Season (Tsuyu)
The humid, muggy rainy season is also a time when it’s easy to feel unwell.
Going out can be difficult, and stress can build up.
To help you enjoy the rainy season a little more, we’re sharing some trivia and quiz questions related to this time of year.
If you pick up some knowledge you can enjoy even on rainy days, you might find the season more comfortable to get through.
Taking on quizzes is beneficial for older adults as well—it can help prevent cognitive decline and improve concentration.
Try tackling them together with the seniors around you and expand your social interactions actively!
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[For Seniors] Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts about the Rainy Season: Questions 1–10
What kind of weather does “hashiri-zuyu” (the early or pre-rainy-season rains) refer to?
- Weather with continued sunny days right after the end of the rainy season
- Weather with continuous rain before the start of the rainy season
- Weather where it suddenly rains in autumn
See the answer
Weather with continuous rain before the start of the rainy season
“Hashiri-zuyu” refers to the phenomenon where rainy days increase as a harbinger before the rainy season officially begins. Hashiri means “forerunner” or “vanguard.” Because it typically appears as a sign that the full rainy season is about to start, it is called by this name.
It’s said that when a certain thing makes a sound, the rainy season ends. What is that thing?
- Frog
- swallow
- thunder
See the answer
Se-thunder
As the rainy season draws to a close, the Pacific High, a summer high-pressure system, strengthens and sends hot, humid air toward the stationary front. Because this warm, moist air serves as the seed for rain, thunderclouds tend to develop easily. Since the end of the rainy season often brings torrential downpours accompanied by thunder, there is a saying: “When thunder rumbles, the rainy season is over.”
What do you call the situation where, despite the announcement of the start of the rainy season, there is little rain?
- dry rainy season
- returning rainy season
- early-summer rain (samidare)
See the answer
dry rainy season
“Kara-tsuyu” (literally “empty rainy season”) refers to the phenomenon where, despite the start of the rainy season being officially declared, there is surprisingly little rainfall for what is supposed to be the monsoon period. In addition to kara-tsuyu, it is also called “teri-tsuyu.”
[For Seniors] Trivia Quiz and Fun Facts about the Rainy Season (Questions 11–20)
Kappa, a type of rain gear, comes from which language etymologically?
The rain gear often used on rainy days is called a ‘kappa.’ What language does the word ‘kappa’ originate from? Hint: It was brought from Portugal.
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- English
See the answer
Portuguese
Kappa comes from the Portuguese word capa. It means a mantle or cloak and was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Originally, it referred to an outer garment used to protect against rain or snow, but today it mainly refers to a raincoat.
Which of the following countries, like Japan, has a rainy season (tsuyu)?
- Australia
- South Korea
- France
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South Korea
Like Japan, South Korea has a rainy season (jangma) from June to July. The rainy season exists only in East Asian countries, and places such as South Korea, China, North Korea, and Taiwan experience heavy rainfall from June to July.
There is a term “〇〇 rain” that refers to the rainy season. What goes in 〇〇?
- May
- June
- July
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May
Samidare refers to the continuous rains that fall in the fifth month of the old lunar calendar, and it is known as another term for the rainy season (tsuyu).
What do you call the scent that arises when soil or plants come into contact with rain?
- Aromatherapy
- petrichor
- phytoncide
See the answer
petrichor
During the rainy season, there is a distinctive scent that lingers after it rains. This scent has a scientific name: “petrichor.” The word comes from Greek and means “the essence of stone.” It arises when oils released by plants and components in the soil are lifted by the rain, creating this unique aroma.