[For Seniors] Lively two-choice trivia quiz. Handy to know and tidbits you'll want to share with others

Eating is dangerous

Have you ever had mold grow on things like sliced bread or New Year’s mochi? Many people might think it’s fine as long as you cut off the moldy part, but that’s actually a no-no. Even if you remove the visible mold, its roots have already penetrated deeply. Mold can cause food poisoning, so you should never eat it!

egg white

It's a trick question that makes you want to answer “red meat!” based on appearance, since fish with red flesh are called akami and those with white flesh are shiromi. Salmon actually have white muscle known as myotomal white muscle, and their fry are white, but they develop a reddish hue as they grow. They look red because they contain astaxanthin, the same pigment found in shrimp and crabs.

Mint (Japanese Mint / Mint Bureau)

Isn't this also a question that's a bit easy to get wrong? When it comes to money, people tend to think of the Bank of Japan, right? Banknotes are issued by the Bank of Japan, but the “coins” in question are made by the Japan Mint. Was that a bit of a trick question?

Type A

Forty percent of Japanese people have blood type A, making it the most common. It is said that blood type O follows at 30%, blood type B at 20%, and blood type AB at 10%.

Left

On a vending machine, you put in money and press a lit button to buy an item, right? Have you ever wondered what would happen if you pressed the buttons at the same time? Some people might have even tried it, thinking they could get two items for the price of one. When you press the left and right buttons simultaneously, you won’t get two products—and in fact, which one comes out is predetermined. The answer is: the left. If someone says the right-side item came out, it means the buttons weren’t actually pressed at exactly the same time.

Take moderate breaks

The answer is to take moderate breaks. To prevent heatstroke, it’s important to avoid direct sunlight, rest periodically in the shade, and cool your body. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, make sure to drink fluids regularly.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

The history of the pencil begins in the 1560s, when graphite was discovered in England and used to make them. Pencils were said to be very rare at the time. Japan’s oldest pencil is believed to have been a favorite of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and it is still housed today in the Kunozan Toshogu Museum in Shizuoka Prefecture.