Are you good at history?
We’ve put together a collection of fun history trivia quizzes that both history buffs and those who find it a bit challenging can enjoy!
Since it’s trivia, the questions focus on the little details that accompany historical events rather than what you learned in history class.
By taking these quizzes, you can learn about the history of Japan and the world from a different perspective.
Some questions have surprising and amusing answers that will make you say, “I had no idea!”—so even if you’re not a fan of history, you might start to like it a bit more.
Give it a try with your family and friends!
- [History Quiz] General History Questions You Should Know
- Let’s take on the challenge! A multiple-choice history quiz for elementary school students. Review your history lessons.
- [Study] Fun to Know! A Collection of World History Trivia Quizzes
- Not taught in school! A roundup of historical trivia and fun facts
- [Challenging] General Knowledge Quiz Compilation: Difficult and Interesting Multiple-Choice Questions (3 Options)
- A quiz of fun trivia: bite-sized knowledge that leads to new insights.
- [General] Surprisingly unknown? Test your geography skills with a three-choice quiz on Japan’s prefectures
- Quiz for junior high school students
- [Interesting] Compilation of Trivia Quiz Questions
- Genius if you can solve it? Super-difficult Quiz Collection
- A fun quiz you can use to kill time by yourself or with everyone
- [For Seniors] Nostalgic quizzes that bring back memories! Showa-era entertainment and sports questions
- [Enjoyable History Quiz] Easy multiple-choice (3 options) quiz that’s accessible for seniors!
How many can you solve? Fun trivia quiz about history (1–10)
Who spread chopsticks throughout Japan?
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune
- Prince Shōtoku
- Tokugawa Ieyasu
See the answer
Prince Shōtoku
Prince Shōtoku is said to have popularized chopsticks in Japan. Until then, people ate with their hands, but upon learning that Chinese dynasties used chopsticks—and anticipating hosting envoys from those dynasties—he studied chopstick etiquette. The earliest chopsticks were reportedly shaped like tweezers.
Who was the first person in Japan to use a pen name?
- Sei Shōnagon
- Murasaki Shikibu
- Ki no Tsurayuki
See the answer
Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu was a female writer of the Heian period, famous as the author of The Tale of Genji and The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu. Her real name is unknown, and it is said that the name “Murasaki Shikibu” was derived from her father’s official post title and from the character Murasaki no Ue who appears in The Tale of Genji.
What sweets did the Jomon people make using Jomon pottery?
- Cookie
- chocolate
- rain
See the answer
Cookie
It is said that cookies back then were made using nuts like acorns, and they have even been found at archaeological sites. This shows that acorns weren’t eaten as they were, but were processed and cooked. Incidentally, acorns themselves were a staple food at the time.
Which warlord is the origin of the phrase “sending salt to the enemy”?
- Uesugi Kenshin
- Oda Nobunaga
- Takeda Shingen
See the answer
Uesugi Kenshin
The warlord who inspired the phrase “sending salt to one’s enemy” was Uesugi Kenshin. When Takeda Shingen faced difficulties obtaining salt, Uesugi Kenshin sent him salt, saying that they were not fighting over necessities of daily life. This episode is the origin of the expression.
When Buddhism was introduced from China, which animal came along with it?
- dog
- horse
- cat
See the answer
cat
It is said that when Buddhism was transmitted to Japan from China, cats came along as well to protect important books from mice. Since cats have long been useful as mousers, they were also kept as “guards” in places like warehouses where grain was stored.