Let's take on a four-choice quiz that everyone can enjoy together!

desert

The “Sahara” in the Sahara Desert actually means “desert” in Arabic. In other words, a literal translation of “Sahara Desert” would be “Desert Desert,” making it a redundant expression. The Sahara Desert is one of the largest deserts in the world, spanning North Africa and covering about 9 million square kilometers.

Because it's a color that doesn't strain the eyes.

The wavelength of visible light that appears green lies in the middle range, and it is said to be perceived without straining the eyes. This is a major reason why green is considered good for the eyes. Incidentally, in color psychology, green is believed to stabilize the mind and body and help ease tension. It’s also said that looking at greenery in the distance is beneficial for relieving eye fatigue.

Osaka Prefecture

The tear-off daily calendar is said to have originated in Osaka Prefecture. During the Meiji era, a printing company in Osaka devised and put into practical use a calendar format in which you flip a page for each day. In Osaka, which had developed as a merchants’ city, managing daily schedules and transactions was crucial, so the daily tear-off format was highly valued. Today it has spread nationwide, and various types—such as versions featuring proverbs and famous quotes—are widely appreciated.

so as not to wipe my nose

The origin of suit sleeve buttons is said to go back to Napoleon, who is known as a French hero. When France invaded Russia, it is said that the soldiers, suffering from the extreme cold, wiped their runny noses with their jacket sleeves. Since the sleeves of soldiers on the march became crusted with mucus, a leading theory holds that metal buttons were added to the sleeves to prevent them from wiping their noses on them.

Easy to hold

The reason pencils are hexagonal is that they’re easy to hold. Another advantage is that they don’t roll easily. As for why they aren’t pentagonal or octagonal, we hold pencils with three fingers, right? So it’s said that a hexagon, being a multiple of three, is ideal.

motorized passenger car

It’s surprising to learn that trains have an official name, isn’t it? Passenger cars that run by powering electric motors are called “densha” (electric trains), so it makes sense that their formal name is “electric multiple unit (EMU).” Although electric locomotives also run on electricity, they don’t carry passengers, so they aren’t called trains (densha).

fart

It is said that during the Edo period there was a profession called heoi-bikuni—women who would take the blame for someone else’s fart. It was a unique custom characteristic of an era that placed great importance on etiquette. Although farting has always been considered embarrassing, these women were so necessary that the role existed as a legitimate job.