Lovely Play & Recreation

A collection of questions that will liven up conversations with friends. Talk themes to deepen your bond.

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Looking for conversation starters that naturally liven up chats with friends? With social media everywhere, there should be plenty of shared topics.

Still, it’s not always easy to think of them, and figuring out how to ask the first question can be tricky.

So this time, we’re introducing a set of classic questions that can help deepen your conversations with friends or even spark them in the first place.

These are all questions that can reveal new sides of the other person, help you share values, and bring you closer.

Give them a try in your next conversation!

The ultimate multiple-choice questions that liven things up (1–10)

If you could only eat one from now on, Kinoko no Yama or Takenoko no Sato, which would it be?

Meiji’s chocolate snacks “Kinoko no Yama” and “Takenoko no Sato” are a classic topic that divides opinions.

Let’s ask people which one they would choose if they could only eat one of the two.

Since this is a different angle from the usual “Which do you like more?” theme of the so-called ‘Kinoko vs.

Takenoko War,’ the direction of the answers might differ as well.

Because these products vary greatly in sweetness and texture, this question also seems likely to reveal what people prioritize when imagining eating them over time.

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Which would you prefer: a long but ordinary life, or a short life that’s more fulfilling than anyone else’s?

This is a question that makes you think about how you want to live your life.

Let’s pit two extremes against each other: wanting to live a long life even if it’s ordinary, versus wanting a fully satisfying life even if it’s short.

It could reveal differences in how people think—whether they prefer calm, peaceful days or exciting, stimulating ones.

It might also be interesting to exchange opinions and find compromises between the two sides.

Another key point is that the question uses vague terms like “longevity” and “a short life,” so discussing how many years each person imagines for those phrases could make for a lively conversation.

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Which would you rather have, the Anywhere Door or the Take-copter?

Which one would you rather have? The Take-copter or the Anywhere Door?

Which would you rather have, the Anywhere Door or the Take-copter?

Doraemon’s secret gadgets, the Anywhere Door and the Take-copter—which would you rather have? With the Anywhere Door, you can open it and instantly arrive at any place you specify.

The Take-copter lets you fly through the sky to wherever you want to go.

Unlike traveling on roads, you wouldn’t have to worry about traffic jams.

Conversations about Doraemon’s gadgets are sure to be a hit! Asking friends why they made their choice will make the discussion even more exciting.

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Which would you rather have: 10,000 yen or 100 lottery tickets?

This question asks whether you would choose a guaranteed 10,000 yen or aim for a larger amount that’s uncertain.

Through this, you can also sense differences in how much hope people place in lotteries.

It might be interesting to focus not only on the goal of a dramatic comeback, but also on whether it’s worthwhile if you think of using the 10,000 yen to buy 100 lottery tickets.

Because the amounts are concrete, it seems like the discussion could get lively by incorporating not just hopes but also calculations into the decision.

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500-million-year button: press it or not?

This is a question asking whether you would press the “500-Million-Year Button,” a device that gives you 1 million yen in exchange for spending 500 million years in an empty void.

It appears in Sota Sugawara’s manga and its anime adaptation, and has since become a staple sci-fi motif.

Because your memory of the 500 million years is erased, it can feel like you’ll receive 1 million yen immediately after pressing the button.

However, the key point to consider is that there is still a version of you who actually experiences those 500 million years.

Is it acceptable if you retain no memory of the suffering, or do you fear the unconscious psychological burden? Let’s discuss how each person thinks about it.

The question also makes you curious about how the story ultimately ends, doesn’t it?

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