[For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions

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.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

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!”

Japanese Geography & Prefectures Quiz (11–20)

In which prefecture is the festival famous for Namahage held?

“Any crying children here?!” Have you heard this phrase somewhere? In winter, men wearing demon-like masks and straw costumes go from house to house scolding children.

This distinctive custom is known as Namahage.

It’s a traditional practice handed down through the generations, said to “warn the lazy and pray for family health and a bountiful harvest.” The festival featuring Namahage takes place in Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region—an area known for heavy snowfall, hot springs, beautiful views of the Sea of Japan, and the local specialty, kiritanpo hot pot.

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Nanaka

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In which prefecture is the Gujo Odori, a Bon dance also known as the “All-Night Dance,” held?

During Obon, when we welcome our ancestors, festivals are sometimes held, and in many cases Bon Odori dances are performed.

Among these dances, there is a special one called Gujo Odori, also known as the All-Night Dance (Tetsuya Odori).

In which prefecture is it held? The answer is Gifu Prefecture.

It is a traditional Bon dance that is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

A major feature is that people continue dancing from night until the following morning, and it is said to combine both memorial rites for ancestors and elements of entertainment.

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What is the second highest mountain in Japan after Mount Fuji?

When it comes to the tallest mountain in Japan, of course it’s Mount Fuji.

So what’s the second tallest? As it turns out, it’s one of the peaks in the Japanese Alps, standing at an impressive 3,193 meters! It may not reach Fuji’s height, but it’s still formidable, and one of the mountains long admired by Japanese mountaineering enthusiasts.

Located on the border between Shizuoka and Nagano Prefectures, you can even see Mount Fuji from its summit on clear days.

Cool air even in summer, abundant nature, and a beautiful ridgeline—its grandeur truly befits the title “the Roof of Japan.” The second highest mountain in Japan, after Mount Fuji, is Mount Kita (Kita-dake).

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In which prefecture is Nikkō Tōshō-gū, where Tokugawa Ieyasu is enshrined, located?

Nikkō Tōshō-gū, famous for its Three Wise Monkeys—“see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil”—and its ornate carvings, is a very well-known shrine nationwide that enshrines Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo shogunate.

The grounds are lined with vividly colored, lavish buildings so impressive you’ll think, “Were these really built in the Edo period?” In particular, the Main Hall and the Yōmeimon Gate are designated National Treasures, drawing many visitors from Japan and abroad.

The shrine is located in Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kanto region, surrounded by abundant nature, and the area is also a hugely popular tourist destination with spots like Kegon Falls and Lake Chūzenji.

It’s also famous for its autumn foliage.

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Where is Choshi Port, which has the largest fish catch in Japan, located?

Choshi Port is one of Japan’s leading fishing ports, famous for landing several kinds of fish such as tuna, sardines, and mackerel.

At this market, where fresh fish gather, it’s a popular spot visited not only by locals but also by tourists from all over the country.

Now, which prefecture is Choshi Port located in? Here’s a hint… it’s at the eastern edge of the Kanto region, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it’s also famous for peanuts, Narita Airport, and the Inubosaki Lighthouse.

The answer is Chiba Prefecture.

Fish is a topic that really livens up the dinner table! As you think about the answer, why not share stories together about delicious fish you ate in the past or memories from your travels?

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Nanaka

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