[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!”

Tonchi and Riddle Quiz (21–30)

Even though you went to the trouble to attach it, what kind of “mochi” can’t be eaten?

The phrase “even though it finally stuck” is the key to this riddle.

If you follow the associations of “something that sticks” and “mochi,” you’ll naturally arrive at “falling on your butt” (shirimochi).

By the way, do you know why falling on your backside is called shirimochi? In fact, shirimochi originally referred to a custom where a child under one year old was made to carry mochi on their back and then gently toppled onto their bottom.

That’s why even today, falling on your backside is called shirimochi.

Incidentally, because a baby’s fall was considered a good omen, shirimochi was also seen as something auspicious.

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yamamoto

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There are four rocks swimming in the sea. What on earth could they be?

The key points are “in the sea,” “rock,” “four,” and “swimming,” right? First, since it’s swimming in the sea, we can infer it’s a fish.

Then, combining “rock” (iwa) and “four” (shi), we get “iwashi,” sardine.

By the way, the origin of the word iwashi is said to be “weak” (yowashi), named because they die easily.

There are many riddles that can be solved with similar wordplay, so this seems like a good practice problem.

Definitely try looking for similar ones and give them a shot.

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yamamoto

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Health and Body Knowledge Quiz (1–10)

Natto is said to have a blood-thinning effect. What time of day is best to eat it to achieve a greater effect?

Natto is one of the foods that embody Japanese tradition and is strongly associated with being healthy.

In fact, natto is good for your health and contains components that help thin the blood.

Did you know there’s a recommended time of day to eat it to draw out its health benefits even more? Considering the times when blood vessels are said to be more prone to clogging, you can figure out the timing that may help prevent that.

The answer is “at night.” Blood vessels are considered more likely to clog while you sleep, so the idea is that consuming the beneficial components about four hours before bedtime is best to help prevent it.

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kappamaki

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What are the two nutrients needed for strong bones?

As we get older, we tend to become more concerned about bone strength, and many people want to keep their bones as strong as possible.

So, what are the two nutrients needed to strengthen bones? One of them is obvious because it always comes up in discussions about bones, but the other might be less straightforward.

It’s easier to think of it not so much as a component of bones, but as something essential for overall health.

The answer is calcium and vitamin D—vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium into the bones.

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kappamaki

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The calves are also called the “second heart.” Using a part of the body, what is it called as the “second” what?

The calf, located on the back of the lower leg, has a nickname that uses the name of a body organ: “the second ___.” What is it? The hints are that it’s an internal organ and an indispensable organ not only for humans but also for animals.

The answer is the second “heart”! Blood tends to pool in the legs, but by actively moving the calves, blood circulates better and can be sent back to the heart more effectively.

That’s why they’re called the “second heart.”

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SAKI

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