[For Seniors] Lively Wordplay Game: Fun Recreation for Elderly Care
Among word games, the one that continues to be loved by people of all ages is shiritori.
In shiritori, you take the last letter of a word and use it to link to a new word, right? How about enjoying this long-popular game with a variety of fun twists? Lively word games like these also serve as brain training and are appealing because everyone can dive in together and have a great time.
This time, we’re introducing shiritori word games that older adults can truly enjoy.
They range from easy to a bit more challenging, so give them a try!
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Tongue Twister Vocal Exercise (1–10)
Ultimate luxury aircraft at a deserted Kyushu airport
The tongue twister “kuukyo na Kyushu kuukou no kyuukyoku koukyuu koukuuki” (empty Kyushu airport’s ultimate luxury aircraft) feels difficult just by looking at it written down.
The sentence is also on the longer side for a tongue twister, and it’s characterized by a mix of hard k sounds and kya-kyu-kyo clusters.
Because of that, it’s said to be hard to say without tripping up.
To be able to say tongue twisters, the key is to be conscious of each word and pronounce every one clearly and distinctly.
By the way, there is no actual airport called “Kyushu Airport.” If you were to use a real airport in a tongue twister, it would be one of the airports in the Kyushu region, such as Kitakyushu Airport.
Frogs hop hop, three hop hop; together hop hop, six hop hop.
A classic tongue twister that depicts frogs gathering—such a cute-sounding phrase.
The key is the lip movement and breath control for “pyoko.” You close your lips once to pronounce “pyo,” then release breath to produce “ko.” Be mindful of the combination and articulate it clearly.
Think of using your breath consciously to train not only your mouth but also the muscles in your throat.
Also, placing a different mouth shape right before the lip-focused “pyo” makes it harder to say, which in turn helps you focus more deliberately on shaping your lips.
Both the Japanese plum and the peach are kinds of peaches; the peach and the Japanese plum are both kinds of peaches.
Plums come into season around mid-June.
Plums are a size smaller than peaches and are known for their sweet-and-tart flavor.
Although they’re said to be smaller than peaches, their shapes are similar, which is why there’s a tongue twister: “Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi; momo mo sumomo mo momo no uchi,” roughly meaning “Both plums and peaches are kinds of ‘momo.’” Because of this tongue twister, some older adults may have the impression that plums and peaches are the same variety.
However, plums belong to the genus Prunus in the rose family, while peaches belong to the genus Amygdalus (also within the rose family), so they are different.
Indeed, while their shapes are similar, plums have smooth skin, whereas peaches have a fine fuzz.
In fact, plums are said to be more closely related to apricots than to peaches.
A monk skillfully painted a picture of a monk on a folding screen.
This is one of the classic tongue twisters in Japan, and the phrase evokes scenes like those in rakugo or old folktales.
Because words with similar sounds—like bouzu, byoubu, and jouzu—appear in succession, be mindful of the subtle differences in pronunciation and your mouth movements.
If you find it hard to connect smoothly from one word to the next, it helps to understand the meaning of the tongue twister or to visualize the scene.
Also, if the sounds get blurred into something like “boozu” or “byoobu,” your mouth won’t get a proper workout, so make sure to clearly articulate the “u” sounds as well.
New Singer New Year Chanson Show
Chanson is a French word that means “song.” In Japan, the chanson “Meke Meke,” which Akihiro Miwa covered and sang in Japanese, is also well-known.
Some older people may have heard it at least once.
The tongue twister “shinjin kashu shinshun chanson show” (Newcomer Singer New Year Chanson Show) can be taken to mean a chanson show held at New Year featuring new singers.
The tongue twister evokes an image of listening to a beautiful singing voice in a refreshing atmosphere.
However, it’s hard to say when you actually try it, especially since the “so” in “chanson” tends to turn into “sho.”