Lovely senior life

[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 (141–150)

What is ‘moshi moshi’ on the phone short for?

When answering the phone, we casually say “moshi moshi,” but what is it short for? The answer is “moushimasu, moushimasu” (“I speak, I speak”).

When telephones were introduced in Japan in 1890 (Meiji 23), calls were connected by telephone operators.

Many operators were women at the time, and they would say “moushimasu, moushimasu,” meaning “I’m about to speak,” which was shortened to “moshi moshi.” Incidentally, men would call out “oi, oi,” and the conversation would begin with responses like “hai, you gozansu” (“yes, very well”).

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What is the origin of the crescent shape of gyoza?

Dumplings are made by wrapping filling in a round piece of dough and shaping it into a crescent.

Where does that shape come from? The answer is: from the shape of Chinese currency.

In China, people eat dumplings around the time of Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year, and at celebratory occasions.

One reason is that their shape resembles the yuanbao—also known as sycee or “horse-hoof silver,” a type of currency used up through the Qing dynasty—so they carry the wish, “May we be blessed with wealth.” If eating lots of delicious dumplings also boosts your good fortune, that’s the best of both worlds!

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The sea bream-shaped taiyaki originally had the shape of a different creature. What shape was it?

It’s hard to imagine taiyaki being in any shape other than a sea bream, isn’t it? Even for seniors who’ve eaten dozens of them, this might be a tricky question.

Here’s a hint: it’s a creature that comes in large and small sizes and is sometimes kept as a pet.

Some seniors might even have kept one in the past.

And the biggest hint is that it has a hard shell! The answer is, of course, a turtle! It was even called “kameyaki,” meaning turtle-shaped yaki.

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In Germany, the birthplace of the cuckoo clock, the bird that pops out isn’t a pigeon. What kind of bird is it?

At the top of the hour, a small window opens and a little bird pops out to announce the time—that’s a cuckoo clock.

In Germany, where it originated, the bird that pops out isn’t a dove.

So, what bird is it? The answer is the cuckoo.

The clock originally comes from Germany’s southwestern Black Forest, called Schwarzwald, and around the world it’s known as a “Kuckucksuhr.” Kuckuck means “cuckoo.” In Japan, however, because “cuckoo” evokes the image of an unpopular, deserted place, the bird became a dove, a symbol of peace.

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Test your trivia knowledge!

[Trivia Quiz] Test Your Trivia Knowledge with This Multiple-Choice Quiz! Volume 1

Test your trivia knowledge!

How high is your correct answer rate for questions on TV quiz shows? Whether you’re someone who says, “I’m not good at quizzes,” or someone who’s “pretty confident in trivia,” you can enjoy this: “Test Your Trivia Skills! Three-Choice Trivia Quiz.” There are videos uploaded to video sites that compile quizzes everyone can enjoy—from beginners to experts—such as “How can you stop a sneeze?”, “How do you make old rice taste good?”, and “How can you stop your anger when it’s about to explode?” It also sounds fun to try them together as entertainment at a birthday party!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Unfortunate Creatures Quiz 1

Utterly Unfortunate! Disappointing Creatures Quiz (1)

Unfortunate Creatures Quiz 1

Among the creatures of the world, some have unique ecologies different from humans, and at times those traits can make life harder for them.

This quiz focuses on such unfortunate aspects of animal life: you try to guess, from the choices, just how unfortunate they are.

While we might assume there are profound reasons for animals living with pain, the fun lies in discovering that it can simply be a string of mistakes.

From unlucky lifestyles to behaviors that turn out to have no real reason, the content also brings out the charming side of animals.

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Easter quiz

[Easter] Spring Quiz: 12 Riddles to Deepen Your Understanding of Easter Eggs, the Easter Bunny, Egg Hunts, Egg Rolls, and More!

Easter quiz

Also known as Easter, the holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ may not be so widespread in Japan, where many people are Buddhist.

Here is a spring-themed quiz that can deepen your knowledge of Easter.

You can learn things like how the Easter season can last as long as 90 days, and how the rabbit used as an Easter symbol represents fertility.

Let’s use this quiz to become more familiar with Easter.

Gaining new knowledge is a lot of fun, isn’t it?

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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