[For Seniors] Fun Brain Training! Quizzes Recommended for October

A witty wordplay using “shō” and “jō”

Brain Teaser: Witty Letter Quiz Short 10 – Brain Training for Seniors #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeaser #DayService #Recreation #DementiaPrevention #BrainTraining

Let’s solve a riddle that looks like an official-style problem! It’s a wordplay puzzle using “shou” and “jou.” The display shows “shou × 2” and “jou ÷ 2.” The hints are that it suggests a bustling crowd, and that “shou” is doubled while “jou” is halved.

The answer is “shoubai hanjou,” meaning “prosperous business.” It makes sense if you think of it as “shou” multiplied and “jou” halved—“shou-bai” and “han-jou.” It’s a perfect brain teaser with clever wordplay, and once you get it, it’s quite satisfying.

Give it a try!

A wordplay puzzle using the characters “mi” and “ri”

Brain Teaser: Witty Letter Quiz Short 5 – Brain Training for Seniors Rec #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeaser #DayService #Recreation

ひらがなを組み合わせよう！「み」と「り」を使った言葉遊びパズルだよ。

The character “み” is stacked vertically and is sandwiched by “り” on both sides.

The hints are that it’s a food and that there are two “mi” with “ri” on both sides.

The answer is “nikomi ryōri” (simmered dishes).

Thinking of two “mi” and “ri” on both sides, you might go “I see!” Simmered dishes like nikujaga, oden, and nimono warm both the heart and body.

A wordplay rebus using the characters “ri,” “u,” and “n”

Brain Teasers: Witty Letter Puzzle Short 8 – Brain Training for Seniors Rec #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeasers #DayService #Recreation #DementiaPrevention

Let's focus on each character's distinctive features and think! Here's a wordplay puzzle using the characters “り,” “う,” and “ん.” You can see a blue “り,” a black “う,” and an “ん” that has fallen over.

There’s not much uniformity, so many people might need time to reach the answer.

The hints are that it’s a phrase describing a dangerous act, and that in addition to the blue “ri,” the “n” has toppled over.

The answer is “あおり運転” (aggressive driving/road rage tailgating).

Once you hear it, you think, “Oh, that’s what it means!”

A wordplay character using “riken” (vested interests) and the katakana “mo.”

Brain Teasers: Witty Letter Quiz Short 16 – Senior Brain Training #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeasers #WittyLetters #Recreation #DementiaPrevention

Let’s think it through with a relaxed, free mindset! This is a wordplay riddle using “riken” (利権) and the katakana “モ.” Inside the characters for “利権,” a blue “モ” is displayed.

The hints are that the ‘モ’ is blue and that the answer is the name of a prefecture.

With those clues, many of you may have had a flash of insight.

The answer is Aomori Prefecture.

It’s a unique puzzle that combines the blue “モ” (ao + mo) with “利権” (ri + ken) to form Aomori-ken.

It’s so satisfying once you figure it out!

A wordplay (riddle) using the name “Taro”

Brain Teaser: Witty Letter Quiz Short 13 – Brain Training for Seniors #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeaser #WittyLetters #Recreation #DementiaPrevention

Let’s capture the features of the characters and try a brain teaser! This is a wordplay puzzle using the name “Taro.” The characters for “Taro” are reversed and have a striped pattern.

The hints are the reversed “Taro” and the stripes.

If I also tell you it’s related to a folktale, many of you might get it right.

The answer is “Urashima Taro.” Since “Taro” is flipped and has stripes (shima), it makes sense.

It’s a folktale long loved in Japan.

Witty characters using the kanji for ‘insect’

Brain Teaser: Witty Letter Quiz Short 17 – Brain Training for Seniors #Shorts #Quiz #BrainTraining #BrainTeaser #WittyLetters #Recreation

Let's think flexibly! Here's a wordplay puzzle using the character for 'insect' (虫).

The character 虫 is shown as if it has fallen over—what does that represent? The hint is to focus on the fact that it’s “an insect” and that it’s fallen.

If you consider whether the action “to fall over” (korobu) can be expressed with a different word, you might reach the answer.

The answer is “ladybug” (tentōmushi).

That’s because “to fall over” (korobu) can be rephrased as “転倒” (tentō), so we get “テントウ虫” (tentōmushi, ladybug).

It’s one of those puzzles that makes you say, “Ah, I see!”

Witty calligraphy using the characters ‘parent’ and ‘se’

Brain Teasers: Witty Character Quiz Short 4 – Cognitive Training for Seniors, Recreation #Shorts #Quiz #DayService #Recreation

After taking a quick breather, let’s give our brains a little workout.

Here’s a wordplay riddle using the characters “親” (parent) and “せ.” You can see the character “せ” placed between the two parts that make up “親,” right? The hints are that it’s a word meaning to cause someone trouble, and that “せ” is inside “親.” With those hints, many of you have probably figured it out already.

The answer is “oyanakase” (a child who causes their parents grief).

Oyanakase refers to behavior by a child that causes their parents distress or makes them lament.