Note: This quiz was written for a pub quiz conducted in Japan, and may be very difficult for anyone without a particular interest in Japan.
- In Japanese history, which era comes between the Asuka Era and the Heian Era?
- Which station, chiefly famous for its nearby love hotel district, lies between Ueno and Nippori on the Yamanote line?
- Which character appears most frequently in the names of Japanese prefectures? Answer either with the character itself, or the common reading of the character in the Roman alphabet.
- The song “Hotaru no hikari” is often played when shops close in Japan, but what traditional Scottish tune is it based on?
- In 2018, only one month went by without a national holiday. Which month?
- I was born in 1867. From 1901-1903 I moved to London, where I was largely miserable. Upon returning to Japan, I began writing novels such as Kusamakura, Botchan and Kokoro. I died in 1916. Until 2007 I appeared on the 1000 yen note. Who am I?
- The American occupation of Japan ended in 1952, except in Okinawa. When did the US occupation of Okinawa end (answers within two years either way will get a point)?
- Which Real Betis player was Japan’s leading goalscorer at the 2018 World Cup?
- Which manga artist created Atom Boy?
- Composer Mamoru Samuragochi, nicknamed “The Japanese Beethoven”, fell from grace in 2014, made a public apology and has since stopped making public appearances. Why?
Answers below (scroll down)
- In Japanese history, which era comes between the Asuka Era and the Heian Era
A: Nara era - Which station, chiefly famous for its nearby love hotel district, lies between Ueno and Nippori on the Yamanote line?
A: Uguisudani - Which character appears most frequently in the names of Japanese prefectures? Answer either with the character itself, or the common reading of the character in the Roman alphabet.
A: Yama (山) - The song “Hotaru no hikari” is often played when shops close in Japan, but what traditional Scottish tune is it based on?
A: Auld Lang Syne - In 2018, only one month went by without a national holiday. Which month?
A: June - I was born in 1867. From 1901-1903 I moved to London, where I was largely miserable. Upon returning to Japan, I began writing novels such as Kusamakura, Botchan and Kokoro. I died in 1916. Until 2007 I appeared on the 1000 yen note. Who am I?
A: Natsume Soseki (this article, and indeed the entire blog, has a lot of interesting information and analysis of Soseki’s work) - The American occupation of Japan ended in 1952, except in Okinawa. When did the US occupation of Okinawa end (answers within two years either way will get a point)?
A: 1972 - Which Real Betis player was Japan’s leading goalscorer at the 2018 World Cup?
A: Takashi Inui - Which manga artist created Atom Boy?
A: Osamu Tezuka - Composer Mamoru Samuragochi, nicknamed “The Japanese Beethoven”, fell from grace in 2014, made a public apology and has since stopped making public appearances. Why?
A: He pretended to be deaf but in reality wasn’t. In addition, works he claimed to have composed were in fact composed by Takashi Niigaki.
