[For Seniors] Fun and Lively! Recommended Quiz Questions
How about quiz games like wordplay and riddles during recreation time at day service centers and other senior facilities? Puzzles that hide meanings in the arrangement, color, or orientation of letters, as well as riddles, are enjoyable brain teasers.
The answers often draw on familiar folk tales or everyday events, so seniors can experience that delightful “I get it!” moment of surprise and accomplishment when inspiration strikes.
The process of thinking stimulates the brain, and smiles and conversation naturally arise when the answer is revealed.
This time, we’ll introduce clever wordplay and riddle quizzes that are sure to get seniors excited and thinking, the kind that make you say, “Wow, that’s clever!”
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Showa Retro: Nostalgia Quiz (11–20)
Which singer performed “Nagasaki no Kane” and served as the White Team’s final act in the first Kōhaku Uta Gassen?
The first ever Kōhaku Uta Gassen took place on January 3, 1951 (Showa 26).
The honor of closing for the White Team in this landmark first event went to Ichirō Fujiyama, who performed one of his signature songs, “Nagasaki no Kane” (The Bells of Nagasaki).
Other performers included Hamako Watanabe with “San Francisco no Chinatown” and Toshiro Oumi with “Yunomachi Elegy,” among others.
Popular songs can vividly bring back memories of events from that time.
Along with using them in a quiz, it might be nice to play a few songs and reminisce together.
In the late 1980s, it became popular to wear flashy outfits outdoors and dance “step dance” to disco sounds. What were these people called as a ‘tribe’?
Since the Heisei era, many dance-vocal groups have emerged, but even before that, there was a large dance collective! They were reportedly seen near Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, as well as in Kichijoji, Ikebukuro, and even Nagoya.
What were these people called? Here’s a hint: they share their name with a vegetable.
The answer is the Takenoko-zoku! There were many groups among those known as the Takenoko-zoku, and some members were even scouted and made their entertainment industry debut.
Showa Retro: Nostalgic Quiz (21–30)
Who was the first heroine of the Showa-era flagship series “It’s Tough Being a Man” (Otoko wa Tsurai yo)?
The film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo is a quintessential representation of the Showa era, depicting the protagonist Tora-san, played by Kiyoshi Atsumi, and the commotion that unfolds around him.
Speaking of Otoko wa Tsurai yo, the relationship between Tora-san and the heroine is also a key element that adds excitement to the story.
Among the various heroines who appear, who played the first heroine, Fuyuko Tsubouchi? With the hint that she’s Tora-san’s childhood friend and appears in later installments as well, some of you may already have her image in mind.
The answer is Sachiko Mitsumoto, who also appears in Otoko wa Tsurai yo: Funtō-hen and Tora-san’s Matchmaker.
Sakurada Junko and Mori Masako were called part of the “Hana no Chūsan Trio.” Who was the third member?
Showa-era idols are sometimes given special nicknames depending on when and how they debuted.
One such nickname is the “Hana no Chūsan Trio” (the Blossoming Ninth-Graders Trio).
Alongside Junko Sakurada and Masako Mori, who is the third member people think of? Some may immediately recall her knowing that all three were of the same generation and debuted from the audition program Star Tanjō! The answer is Momoe Yamaguchi—a legendary idol who famously retired from show business upon getting married.
Which band held the first rock concert at the Budokan, known as the sacred site of Japanese martial arts?
While the Nippon Budokan is a venue for martial arts tournaments, it also hosts many music events.
As for the band that first held a rock concert there—the very act that helped make the Budokan beloved by musicians—who could it be? Here’s a hint: they were an overseas act whose visit to Japan became such a major event that it’s remembered as part of the nation’s history.
Many might guess the answer from that alone.
It’s the Beatles—their arrival and performances are passed down as a page in history.
What was the other event, besides men’s judo, that became an official discipline at the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964?
The Tokyo Olympics held in 1964 were a significant event in Japan’s history, and many developments—including transportation improvements—got underway from that point.
At those Tokyo Olympics, what sport became an official event alongside men’s judo? Many people might recognize the answer when they hear the phrase that spread from that sport: “Witches of the Orient.” The answer is volleyball.
While judo was only for men, volleyball was added as an official event for both men and women, and the women’s volleyball team was nicknamed the “Witches of the Orient.”
Words & Kanji Quiz (1–10)
Four-character idiom fill-in-the-blank quiz
Four-character idioms are hard to write in kanji, but wouldn’t a fill-in-the-blank quiz make them more fun? Of course, there are people who can write them perfectly in kanji, but to keep things clear for everyone, let’s enjoy a fill-in-the-blank quiz where one character is left blank for people to answer.
Once you get used to it, you can customize it by choosing more difficult idioms or leaving two blanks, which makes it even more engaging.
If it seems too hard, it might also be good to have people read them and then answer.
