[For Seniors] Spring-themed quizzes: Fun trivia questions that help prevent dementia while you solve them

green

When we think of cherry blossoms, many people imagine pale pink or white, but in fact there is a rare variety called “Gyoikō” that blooms with green flowers. At the beginning of blooming, they are a refreshing light green, distinguished by red streaks at the center. As the petals approach the time to fall, the entire flower takes on a slight reddish hue, allowing you to enjoy the change in color.

summer orange

The correct answer is natsumikan! Because it has “natsu” (summer) in its name, people often assume it’s in season in summer, but in fact the best time to enjoy it is around April to May in spring. The fruit ripens from autumn to winter, but at that time it’s too sour to be tasty. By leaving the fruit on the tree over winter and letting it soak up the warm spring sunshine, the sharp acidity mellows and turns into a gentle sweetness.

Oshima cherry

The correct answer is Oshima cherry. Compared to the leaves of other cherry trees, Oshima cherry leaves are larger and softer, with fewer fine hairs on the surface, giving them a pleasant mouthfeel and making them very suitable for eating. Moreover, when the leaves are salted, a distinctive aromatic compound called coumarin is brought out, creating that wonderful spring fragrance of sakuramochi.

bud

Fukinoto, which is cherished as a quintessential wild vegetable that heralds the arrival of spring, is the flower bud of the plant known as fuki (Japanese butterbur). As the snow melts, it peeks out from the ground, and after this fukinoto grows and blooms, the long green stalks that emerge separately from the underground stems are what we commonly see in supermarkets and cook in dishes like simmered foods—the green “fuki” itself.

green pea

Green peas, which are in season from spring to early summer, are harvested before the peas fully mature, while the pods are still green and unripe. Incidentally, those picked even earlier—when the peas inside are still small and the pods can be eaten whole—are called “sayaendo” (snow peas).

Rugby

The emblem of Japan’s national rugby team features the cherry blossom, a symbol of spring. This cherry blossom emblem is also the origin of the team’s nickname, “Brave Blossoms,” and is beloved around the world. It is said that the choice of the cherry blossom reflects the Bushido spirit: to fight with honor and to fall with grace.

Edohigan cherry

Somei Yoshino is said to have been created toward the end of the Edo period by the gardeners of Somei Village through crossbreeding Oshima-zakura and Edo-higan. It beautifully combines the traits of Edo-higan, which blooms before its leaves emerge, and Oshima-zakura, which has large, beautiful flowers.