[For Seniors] Summer-Themed Quiz: A Collection of Fun Questions to Liven Up Recreational Activities

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

How about an indoor quiz that lets you stay comfortable as a recreational activity on hot summer days? In recent years, Japan has been getting hotter year by year.

Quizzes let you train your brain without physical exertion, so they’re a great option for recreation in senior facilities during midsummer.

Since the theme is summer, it might help people feel the season and recall past memories.

For older adults, looking back and talking about the past can promote emotional stability and benefit cognitive function.

It also makes it easier to spark communication with those around them.

Enjoy a fun summer moment while doing brain training with quizzes!

[For Seniors] Summer-Themed Quiz: A Collection of Fun Questions That Liven Up Recreational Activities (51–60)

How many horns does a rhinoceros beetle have at minimum?

When it comes to insects that symbolize summer, many people would probably think of rhinoceros beetles and remember experimenting with different ways to catch them.

Male beetles in particular have impressive horns that symbolize strength, which is exciting for many boys.

Females don’t have horns, and males do—that’s one key difference.

But let’s think about the number of horns.

While many people picture a single large horn, rhinoceros beetles actually have two horns: one on top and one below, with the lower horn being the iconic large one.

There are also species that have more than two horns, so learning about those as well could be interesting.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

The shelf used to display ancestral tablets and offerings during Obon is called a “bon-dana.” What is its other name?

Obon is a time when we welcome and honor our ancestors, and one of its distinctive features is the various decorations, beginning with the offerings.

The shelf used to display these indispensable Obon offerings is called a “bon-dana,” but what else is it called? The answer is “shōryō-dana.” Since many Obon-related decorations and events include the word “shōryō” (spirit), this name is easy to picture.

From this, you can also sense that ancestors are referred to as “shōryō,” which may deepen the feeling that they are sacred.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

In which prefecture is the Gujo Odori, a Bon dance also known as the “All-Night Dance,” held?

During Obon, when we welcome our ancestors, festivals are sometimes held, and in many cases Bon Odori dances are performed.

Among these dances, there is a special one called Gujo Odori, also known as the All-Night Dance (Tetsuya Odori).

In which prefecture is it held? The answer is Gifu Prefecture.

It is a traditional Bon dance that is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

A major feature is that people continue dancing from night until the following morning, and it is said to combine both memorial rites for ancestors and elements of entertainment.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

Which prefecture in Japan produces the most uchiwa (traditional handheld fans)?

To stay comfortable during the hot summer, creating a cool breeze with a folding fan or a handheld fan (uchiwa) is a familiar sight, isn’t it? How about deepening your knowledge about uchiwa, which we use so naturally? As a traditional craft, uchiwa are made in various regions, but the one said to have the highest production is the “Marugame Uchiwa” from Kagawa Prefecture.

Designated as a traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, it reportedly accounts for 90% of the nation’s uchiwa production.

It might be interesting to look into the differences among regional uchiwa and their histories, too.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

[For Seniors] Summer-Themed Quiz: A Collection of Fun Questions to Liven Up Recreational Activities (61–70)

Where is the weakness of the famous yokai, the kappa?

Among the yokai passed down in Japan, the kappa is arguably one of the most famous.

Because it is a water-related yokai, it is sometimes treated as a water deity.

Living in rivers and marshes, it is depicted in folktales and legends interacting with people who come near.

While it may be strongly associated with mischief, it is also told of as a benevolent yokai—helping with civil engineering work or teaching medicinal recipes—an aspect that suggests how long its stories have been passed down.

The kappa’s weakness is the “dish” on its head; the fact that the most striking part of its impactful appearance is also its weak point adds a comical touch and makes it feel like a familiar, approachable yokai.

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

By when should a midsummer greeting (shochu-mimai) be sent to observe proper etiquette?

It’s important to stay mindful about hydration and managing your health so you don’t get sick in the summer heat.

With that concern for well-being in mind, let’s think about the etiquette for sending shochu-mimai (summer greeting cards).

Many people may strongly associate them with the hot season and haven’t really considered the deadline for sending them.

Since shochu-mimai are summer greetings, the etiquette is to send them by Risshū (the start of autumn in the traditional calendar).

If they would arrive after that, it is considered proper to send them instead as zansho-mimai (late-summer greetings).

Raise the rankinglower

kappamaki

Report a problem

In conclusion

Since this quiz is about summer, which comes around every year, the answers might come to mind more easily.

You can do the quiz while seated, so people who have difficulty moving their bodies can also take part.

The motivation to answer the questions can help prevent dementia and slow the progression of early-stage dementia.

Let’s come up with lots of answers and stimulate our brains!