[For Seniors] Brain-training with winter-themed quizzes. Great for activities, killing time, and dementia prevention.

Social worker / Care workermoko
My name is Moko, a mother of three who admired my mother and worked in the care industry as a care worker and as a medical social worker (MSW) in a hospital. I will be drawing on my previous experience to write mainly about caregiving. Thank you in advance.
Care Worker Initial Training Certification ObtainedNakajima Junko
Leveraging my experience working as a care worker at a day service, I am currently active as a writer in the caregiving and welfare fields. Beyond writing, I hope to expand my work into web design and illustration. I am a mother of three who has begun studying to become a certified social worker.

As the weather turns cold, we tend to spend more time indoors where it’s warm.

On such winter days, why not enjoy some fun moments with quizzes that anyone can enjoy, regardless of age, while engaging your mind? This time, we’re introducing quizzes that you can enjoy and learn from together with older adults, featuring tidbits about New Year’s traditions and the nature of winter.

By revisiting traditional wisdom and seasonal changes in quiz form, conversations that span generations will flow naturally.

How about taking on the challenge with your family or friends?

[For Seniors] Brain training with winter-themed quizzes: great for recreation, passing time, and dementia prevention (41–50)

From which month to which month does winter span?

From November to January
December to February
January to March

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December to February

In the Japan Meteorological Agency’s seasonal classification, winter runs from December to February. Incidentally, spring is from March to May, summer from June to August, and autumn from September to November. Winter spans the turn of the year, so when specifying which year a winter refers to, the year that includes January is used.

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In winter, there are opportunities to see swans that overwinter in Japan. Why are swans able to float on water?

Floating in the water, kicking legs
There’s a spot on my foot where air goes in like a balloon.
Because I’m applying oil to my body

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Because I’m applying oil to my body

People often say that swans and other waterfowl may look graceful, but beneath the surface they’re paddling hard. But what is it really like? In fact, swans and waterfowl have what’s called a uropygial (preen) gland near their rump that secretes oil. They spread this oil over their feathers to improve water repellency. What’s more, by coating their bodies with the oil, they also trap air, which serves like a flotation device.

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When does koharubiyori refer to?

From November to December
January to February
From March to April

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From November to December

Koharu-biyori refers to the period from late autumn to early winter, roughly from November to December. Koharu is another name for the tenth month of the old lunar calendar, which corresponds to today’s November to December. The term is used for days during this time that are warm, calm, and sunny like spring. From the expression itself, you can almost picture a pleasantly warm, sunny spring day.

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In the past, New Year’s gifts (otoshidama) were not money. What were they?

stone
kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)
sweets

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kagami mochi (traditional Japanese New Year rice cake decoration)

It’s said that otoshidama originated from families sharing the kagami mochi that had been offered during the New Year. This mochi was called “toshidama,” referring to the round rice cakes offered to welcome the New Year deity. By distributing this mochi among family members, people also expressed a wish for everyone to spend the year safely.

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When it snows, children build igloos, but what is the original purpose of building an igloo?

enshrine a deity
Food storage location
It doesn’t mean anything in particular.

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enshrine a deity

When it snows, you might picture people building dome-shaped igloos. Children keeping warm inside the igloos they made themselves. That’s the common image of kamakura, but in fact, building them has a different meaning. Originally, it was a folk event in Akita Prefecture: offerings were made to the water deity enshrined at the front inside the kamakura to pray for family safety, business prosperity, and a bountiful harvest.

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