[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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- [For Seniors] Recommended Trivia Quizzes & Fun Facts for November
Trivia and Fun Facts Quiz (21–30)
How many events have been held continuously from the first Olympic Games to the present?
People tend to think the same events are held every time, but in fact, only five Olympic sports have continued without interruption since the first Games: athletics (track and field), swimming, artistic gymnastics, fencing, and cycling.
Some events that used to be included have been dropped or later reinstated—so it really varies by Olympics.
The Olympic program is decided by the International Olympic Committee at its Session, but if issues arise—such as doping problems or any concerns about the governance capacity of the international federations, commonly called IFs—sports can be excluded.
Trivia and Fun Facts Quiz (31–40)
The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. Which country is the origin of Mother’s Day?
The second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day—a day to acknowledge mothers’ daily efforts and express our gratitude.
It has become customary to give gifts like carnations to show appreciation, but few people may know the detailed history behind it.
How about a quiz that delves into the origins and history of Mother’s Day? It’s said that the tradition of giving carnations began as a tribute to American social activist Ann Jarvis.
Behind it lies a mother’s strong love and the desire not to send husbands and children off to war.
There are three katakana characters hidden in the giraffe mark of Kirin Beer. What do the characters spell?
Kirin Beer, sold by the major beer manufacturer KIRIN.
On the cans and bottles of Kirin Beer, a mythical creature called a kirin is depicted.
So what are the three katakana characters hidden within the illustration of the kirin? When combined, these three characters form a word.
答えは――キリン！文字がとても小さく周りの線と馴染んでいるので一見わかりにくいですが、よく見ると「キリン」という語がはっきり見つかります。各文字は別々に配置されているので、ぜひ探してみてください！
Mr. Shojiro Ishibashi, the founder of a tire manufacturer, named the company after his surname. What is the name of the tire manufacturer?
Shojiro Ishibashi’s surname is “Ishibashi,” but the company name is not simply “Ishibashi” or “Ishibashi” in katakana.
He converted his surname into other words and used that as the company name.
The answer is Bridgestone.
“Bridji” comes from the English word “bridge,” corresponding to the “hashi” (bridge) in “Ishibashi,” and “stone” comes from the English word for “ishi” (stone).
Combining them gives “Bridgestone.” It’s said that using the original order, “Stonebridge,” sounded a bit awkward in Japanese, so he reversed it to “Bridgestone.”
In what language is the word “pom-pom,” which is used for cheering?
What language is the origin of the word “pom-pom,” used as a cheering item at events like sports days? The answer is French; it is said to derive from “pompon,” meaning a tuft with a rounded end.
Invented as a cheering accessory in the 1930s, pom-poms were made of paper at the time and couldn’t be used in bad weather—details that convey the history they’ve accumulated.
By learning that history properly, we may grow more attached to the everyday items used at events.
Kendama is often associated with Japan, but where did it originally come from?
Many of you probably played with a kendama when you were children.
When you think of kendama, you might picture it as a traditional Japanese pastime.
However, it actually originated in another country.
Which country is that? The answer is France.
It was born in the 16th century, and over there it’s called “bilboquet.” Unlike the Japanese kendama, it doesn’t have the two side cups—a large cup and a small cup.
Its other structural features also differ slightly, so if you’re curious, try looking it up and comparing them.
Food & Cooking Quiz (1–10)
Candy character quizNEW!
A “Who am I?” quiz with candy characters sounds like a theme that could really liven things up! Let’s make questions from classic snacks that everyone has seen or eaten.
For sweets familiar to older adults, how about Koala’s March, Ottotto, or potato chips? Show the character illustrations on a screen or flip cards, and have participants guess their names.
It might lead to discoveries like, “So that’s what it was called?” Why not include old-fashioned snacks as well and create a quiz that older adults will enjoy participating in?
Who am I? Fruit editionNEW!
Who am I, where you figure out the answer from three hints? This is a quiz with a fruit theme.
The key is to start the first of the three hints with something broad that doesn’t narrow the answer too much, and then make the second and third hints gradually bring you closer to the answer.
For example, the first hint could be the production area, the second the color, and the third specific words.
If the answer is “ume (Japanese plum),” a good third hint would be something that makes it easy to narrow down, like “—shu (liqueur), —boshi (dried).” It’s recommended as a quiz that helps older adults have fun while recalling memories and can help prevent dementia.
Persimmons are such a nutritious fruit that there’s a saying: “When persimmons turn red, the doctor turns blue.” What goes in the blank is “doctor.”
There’s a saying that goes, “When persimmons turn red, what turns blue?” The answer is “doctors.” It means that because persimmons are highly nutritious, eating them keeps people healthy, so doctors lose business and turn pale.
It’s also said that the season when persimmons ripen has pleasant weather, and fewer people fall ill.
Persimmons are rich in vitamin C and also contain carotenoids such as cryptoxanthin and lycopene, which are believed to help prevent colds, boost immunity, improve skin, and even slow aging.
Among the many foods, there is only one that does not spoil. What is it?
Speaking of food, we often worry about best-before and use-by dates.
But if a food doesn’t spoil, there’s no need to throw it away, which is very eco-friendly.
What do you think this wonderful food is? Here’s a hint: you eat it drizzled over things like bread, pancakes, and yogurt.
It’s diligently gathered by a certain insect, and it’s very sweet.
The answer is—honey! Honey is said not to spoil because it’s high in sugar and low in water content, conditions in which bacteria can’t survive.