Ranking quiz roundup. Great not only for quiz tournaments but also as conversation starters!

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture, the fourth largest in Japan, is also beloved as a summer retreat thanks to its cool temperatures. While it’s known for its rich natural environment, another appealing point is its excellent access to Tokyo via the Hokuriku Shinkansen. With the Linear (maglev) Shinkansen also set to run through the prefecture, access from outside the region will improve, and it’s expected to become even more popular. (Prefectures 10,000 people chose as places they want to relocate to: No. 3 Tochigi, No. 2 Nagano, and No. 1 is...? | ITmedia Business Online)

Kichijoji (SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2023, Greater Tokyo Area — Which City (Station) Ranks No. 1? | SUUMO）

Located in Musashino City, Tokyo, this area has developed with commercial districts centered around Kichijoji Station, while the suburbs have become quiet, upscale residential neighborhoods. Its great appeal lies in its dual nature: excellent access and convenient shopping on the one hand, and a calm environment surrounded by nature on the other.

Kanagawa Prefecture (Top 100 Skyscrapers | Japan's Skyscrapers）

Located in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama Landmark Tower is a flagship multi-use building that houses offices, a hotel, and commercial facilities. Incidentally, in 2023 the Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower was built in Minato City, Tokyo, surpassing Abeno Harukas, which had previously held the top spot.

Japan (WHO global life expectancy rankings: Japan's position and the worldwide situation | ELEMINIST）

Japan is the world’s longest-lived country, with an average life expectancy of 84.3 years, surpassing South Korea’s 83.3 and Switzerland’s 83.4. Living longer is certainly positive, but when we look at the differences between average life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, as well as the gap between men’s and women’s life expectancies, there still seems to be much to consider.

Hokkaido (Column: “Humans and the Living Environment,” No. 14: “A Story of the Kotatsu — How Is the ‘Kotatsu’ Used?” | The Society for Human-Living Environment Studies）

It may seem strange to hear that the kotatsu—a heating appliance—is not very common in Hokkaido, which is one of the coldest regions in Japan. The main reason is that in Hokkaido it’s standard to heat the entire home; there’s a sense that a kotatsu, which only warms a specific spot, isn’t enough to get through the cold there.

Lake Saroma (Top 10 Largest Lakes by Area | Nippon Travel Magazine）

Spanning 150 square kilometers across the cities and towns of Kitami, Saroma, and Yubetsu in Hokkaido, this vast lake is Japan’s largest brackish lake, where seawater flows in. Not only is it rich in nature, but it’s also notable for its abundant fisheries, including scallop and oyster farming and the harvesting of Hokkai shima-ebi (northern shrimp).

Nagano Prefecture (Please tell me about grape production volumes and varieties. | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries）

Of Japan’s grape harvest, Yamanashi Prefecture accounts for 21%, followed by Nagano Prefecture at 20%. Incidentally, Yamagata and Okayama each account for 9%, indicating a significant gap. Nagano has been a grape-growing region since the Edo period, and varieties such as Kyoho, Nagano Purple, and Shine Muscat are particularly popular.