Surprisingly, there’s a lot we don’t know? A quiz to learn trivia about May!

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!”
Music writer / guitarist / Certified web writing practitionerHoshino Takashi
Drawing on over 30 years of experience with guitars and bands since my high school days, I specialize in music-related articles and have handled many feature pieces to date. While my tastes lean toward genres like hard rock and heavy metal since I first picked up the guitar, I make a point of listening to a wide range of styles, both Japanese and Western, on a daily basis. I began working as a freelance writer in 2018. I hold a Web Writing Practical Certification, and in addition to writing, I’m also studying video editing. In my private life, I’m raising an elementary school child and stay active while supporting their extracurriculars, such as parkour and dance.

When you hear “May,” what comes to mind?

There are all kinds of events, like Golden Week and Mother’s Day.

It’s also a warm, comfortable time of year when hay fever finally starts to subside, making it perfect for outings and various leisure activities!

In fact, there are quite a few little-known facts about May that many people aren’t aware of.

This time, we’ll introduce a variety of trivia about May in quiz format—from things everyone knows to tidbits you’ll likely learn for the first time in this article!

Be sure to give it a try.

Surprising how much we don’t know? A quiz to learn trivia about May! (21–30)

What is the food wrapped in bamboo leaves that is eaten on Children’s Day, similar to kashiwa mochi?

chimaki (a Japanese sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves; in Chinese contexts, often called zongzi)
ankoro mochi (sweet red bean–covered rice cake)
ohagi (sweet rice balls coated with red bean paste)

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chimaki (a Japanese sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves; in Chinese contexts, often called zongzi)

On Children’s Day, chimaki are commonly eaten along with kashiwa mochi. Since they were introduced from China during the Nara period, when the capital was in Nara, they primarily spread in western Japan, including the Kinki region. As a result, even today chimaki seem to be eaten more frequently in areas west of Kansai than in the Kanto region.

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SAKI

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Who originally celebrated the Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Festival)?

elderly person; senior citizen; older adult
woman
child/children

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woman

Tango no Sekku is known as a celebration for boys, but in the past it was a day for women. It is said that this was because, during this season, young women practiced a purification custom called “Satsuki-imi” to ward off impurity and pray for a bountiful rice harvest.

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SAKI

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In conclusion

This time, we introduced trivia and fun facts related to May in a quiz format. From things you may have learned in school to more obscure, niche topics, the quiz likely helped deepen your knowledge of May. Since May is also a season full of events, we hope this sparked even a little interest in the meanings and histories behind each of them.