[For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
How about quiz games like wordplay and riddles during recreation time at day service centers and other senior facilities? Puzzles that hide meanings in the arrangement, color, or orientation of letters, as well as riddles, are enjoyable brain teasers.
The answers often draw on familiar folk tales or everyday events, so seniors can experience that delightful “I get it!” moment of surprise and accomplishment when inspiration strikes.
The process of thinking stimulates the brain, and smiles and conversation naturally arise when the answer is revealed.
This time, we’ll introduce clever wordplay and riddle quizzes that are sure to get seniors excited and thinking, the kind that make you say, “Wow, that’s clever!”
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Showa Retro: Nostalgic Quiz (21–30)
What was the other event, besides men’s judo, that became an official discipline at the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964?
The Tokyo Olympics held in 1964 were a significant event in Japan’s history, and many developments—including transportation improvements—got underway from that point.
At those Tokyo Olympics, what sport became an official event alongside men’s judo? Many people might recognize the answer when they hear the phrase that spread from that sport: “Witches of the Orient.” The answer is volleyball.
While judo was only for men, volleyball was added as an official event for both men and women, and the women’s volleyball team was nicknamed the “Witches of the Orient.”
Words & Kanji Quiz (1–10)
Odd one out quiz
Let’s try playing an “odd one out” quiz where several letters or words are listed and you have to find the one that doesn’t belong—the one that’s unrelated! Each set follows a certain rule, and only one item doesn’t fit that rule.
Because the words are so similar, it can be hard to figure out even if you think carefully—but once you hear the answer, you often go, “Oh, of course! How did I miss that?” (lol).
Let’s also prepare some simple, easy-to-understand hints for anyone who can’t find the answer.
Four-character idiom fill-in-the-blank quiz
Four-character idioms are hard to write in kanji, but wouldn’t a fill-in-the-blank quiz make them more fun? Of course, there are people who can write them perfectly in kanji, but to keep things clear for everyone, let’s enjoy a fill-in-the-blank quiz where one character is left blank for people to answer.
Once you get used to it, you can customize it by choosing more difficult idioms or leaving two blanks, which makes it even more engaging.
If it seems too hard, it might also be good to have people read them and then answer.
Proverb fill-in-the-blank quiz
Let’s prepare a quiz using proverbs and have some fun.
Writing out proverbs, especially in kanji, can be a bit challenging, but how about turning it into a fill-in-the-blank quiz? Even people who find it hard to recall an entire proverb might be able to answer a fill-in-the-blank version.
You could also make it more exciting by setting themes for the proverbs you choose—like ones related to the current season or those that include food names!
Same Letter Fill-in-the-Blank Quiz
Effective brain training! Here are ideas for a same-letter fill-in-the-blank quiz.
On the screen, words are shown in hiragana, but they have holes marked with circles.
No matter how many circles there are, complete the word by using the same hiragana for all the circles! For example, the characters “○か○ま” appear, and you’re told, “Fill the circles with the same character.” There are 20 such questions.
Each one has a 20-second time limit, but there are hints, so take your time and think it through.
You’ll feel refreshed when you find the answer!
Kanji quiz: Things found in the house
Let’s try writing items found at home or commonly used and seen in daily life in kanji.
Even older adults may find that, when turned into a quiz, they can’t recall kanji they actually know.
That could make it lively, and you can also give hints and have people arrive at the answers.
Even kanji of higher difficulty can be enjoyed as an opportunity to learn something new.
With ideas like multiple-choice questions where you select from a few options, you can create a variety of engaging problems.
By all means, make use of quizzes based on things around the house and enjoy a fun time.
Proverb Quiz
Proverbs we’ve been familiar with since childhood.
The charm of language really comes through in how these simple expressions make sense to everyone, doesn’t it? Let’s turn those proverbs into a quiz for seniors and have some fun.
If you’re doing it as a day-service recreation activity, fill-in-the-blank questions are recommended.
Thinking about the meanings of the proverbs together will further boost knowledge and can be effective for brain training and dementia prevention.
Start with easy questions and gradually increase the difficulty to match the participants’ level.
Kanji quiz with characters many people misread
Easily misread words! Here are some ideas for a kanji quiz featuring characters that many people read incorrectly.
Even words you use every day might actually be ones you’ve been misreading.
In recent years, there have even been cases where incorrect usage spread and became socially accepted.
This time, let’s try a kanji quiz that many people get wrong.
For example, a word like “呑気” is shown, and you’re asked, “How do you read this kanji?” There are 15 such questions.
Each has a 10-second time limit, so if you want to think more carefully, try pausing the video as you go.
Auspicious Words Kanji Quiz
Will your luck improve!? Here are some ideas for a kanji quiz featuring auspicious words.
When you hear “lucky” or “auspicious” words, what comes to mind? If you form an image first and then tackle the quiz, your accuracy might even go up.
For example, a question might show the phrase “家内安全” and ask you to consider how it is read and what it means.
There are 15 such questions.
There are also hints, so feel free to give the quiz a try!
Kanji that are easy to misread quiz
You might use these often but actually be reading them wrong! Here are some ideas for a quiz on commonly misread kanji.
There are countless idioms used in everyday life, right? It could turn into a quiz full of new discoveries like, “Oh, I’ve been remembering that wrong!” or “I didn’t know that!” Give the commonly misread kanji quiz a try! For example, the word “肉汁” is shown and you’re asked, “How do you read this kanji?” There are 20 such questions.
Each has a 10-second time limit, so just answer as you normally would.