[For Seniors] Boost Your Knowledge! Fun Trivia Quiz

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.
Worked as a certified care worker for 17 years.Nanaka
I’ve been working as a certified care worker for 17 years. I’m Nanaka, a caregiving web writer. I decided to pursue this profession because I wanted a job that would help people. Having worked in day care for many years, I’ve experienced a wide variety of recreational activities. Exercise set to music, in particular, always created a cheerful atmosphere and was very well received. I’d be delighted to continue delivering writing that resonates with readers through caregiving-related articles. Thank you for your support.

“I wonder what this animal is.” “Who could this historical figure be?” There are still many things even older adults may not know, right?

So this time, we’re introducing a set of trivia quizzes we’d like older adults to try.

Even seniors with a wealth of knowledge might come across trivia that makes them say, “I learned that for the first time.”

What’s more, getting the answers right can boost motivation, making these quizzes great for recreational activities at senior facilities.

They’re excellent brain training, of course, and we hope everyone enjoys them together, including sharing stories related to the trivia quizzes.

[For Seniors] Boost Your Knowledge! Fun Trivia Quiz (91–100)

What anniversary is the anniversary of the popular menu on May 6?

May 6 falls right after a cluster of public holidays, and it often ends up being a day off as well, whether because it lands on a weekend or becomes a substitute holiday.

Let’s learn about the anniversaries assigned to May 6—which often feels like an add-on—and deepen our interest in this date.

Since there are food-related commemorative days set for it, incorporating them into your menu could be a nice idea.

With the hope that families will enjoy these foods during the excursion season, and focusing on the way the numbers 5 and 6 are read in Japanese, “Croquette Day” has been established on May 6.

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kappamaki

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“Bow-wow” represents the sound made by a dog in English. What animal is it?

How animals’ sounds are represented varies from country to country.

Among them, which animal is expressed with the sound “bow-wow” in English? Even if you’re not familiar with “bow-wow,” it’s such a classic animal that you’d quickly get the answer just by listing animals one by one.

The answer is “dog.” If you also look into how other animals’ sounds are expressed in English, and how they change in languages other than English, you’ll deepen your knowledge—and it might make for a lively conversation, too.

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From the late 1950s to the 1960s in the Showa era, a certain indoor sport became extremely popular. What sport was it?

The sport in question—many older people might say they used to play it often, especially with the recent boom—what could it be? Here are some hints: it’s a sport that uses a heavy ball, and you throw that ball toward a specific target.

The answer is bowling! At the time, there were over 3,500 bowling alleys nationwide, and many people owned their own shoes and balls.

Numerous star players emerged as well, such as Kayoko Suda and Ritsuko Nakayama.

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SAKI

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Differences between udon, hiyamugi, and sōmen

Udon, somen, and hiyamugi are familiar ingredients for many Japanese people.

Since they’re all made from the same wheat flour despite having different names, it’s natural to wonder what sets them apart.

Let’s clear that up by looking at the differences among udon, somen, and hiyamugi.

The main distinction is thickness.

Depending on whether they’re machine-made or hand-stretched, there can be slight variations, but generally somen is thin, udon is thick, and hiyamugi falls in between.

It’s also helpful to learn about the textures each thickness aims for and key points in how they’re made.

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What unit is used when counting omamori (Japanese protective charms)?

When counting omamori (protective charms), what counter do we use? The answer is “tai.” Instead of saying “one piece” or “two,” you read them as “ittai, nitai.” The reason is that omamori are considered embodiments of the deities.

Come to think of it, the places that offer omamori are labeled “juyosho” (place of conferral), not “hanbaisho” (sales counter).

By the way, deities themselves are counted as “hitoshibashira, futashibashira” (1 pillar, 2 pillars), and mikoshi (portable shrines), being the deities’ vehicles, are counted as “ikki, nikki” (1 unit, 2 units).

Knowing these counters can make you feel a solemn, sacred sense that you are being granted a share of the deity’s power.

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hiyori

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What is the reason monks strike a wooden fish (mokugyo) when chanting sutras and the like?

The mokugyo (wooden fish drum) produces a pleasant, gently tapping sound, but what is the original reason monks strike it while chanting sutras? Surprisingly, it’s “to keep the monks from getting drowsy.” In the past, many monks and trainees would nod off during long recitations, so they used a drum shaped like a fish—an animal said to keep its eyes open at all times—to embody the idea of “keeping one’s eyes open like a fish and diligently engaging in practice.” It’s also said that the sound of the mokugyo helps dispel worldly desires.

If you get the chance, try listening with that in mind!

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When you can’t stop coughing, drinking a syrup made by soaking a certain vegetable in honey can calm it. What is that vegetable?

The correct answer is “daikon radish.” A compound found in daikon called isothiocyanate has anti-inflammatory effects, and honey contains an enzyme called glucose oxidase.

This enzyme reacts with oxygen in the air to produce hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide, also known as “oxydol,” has disinfectant properties—the same “oxydol” used to disinfect wounds.

Based on this, “honey daikon” appears to help soothe coughs by disinfecting the throat and reducing inflammation.

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