Japan: 10 questions

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.

1. In Japanese history, which era comes between the Asuka Era and the Heian Era?
2. Which station, chiefly famous for its nearby love hotel district, lies between Ueno and Nippori on the Yamanote line?
3. 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.
4. The song “Hotaru no hikari” is often played when shops close in Japan, but what traditional Scottish tune is it based on?
5. In 2018, only one month went by without a national holiday. Which month?
   
6. 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?
7. 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)?
8. Which Real Betis player was Japan’s leading goalscorer at the 2018 World Cup?
9. Which manga artist created Atom Boy?
10. 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)

1. In Japanese history, which era comes between the Asuka Era and the Heian Era
   A: Nara era
2. Which station, chiefly famous for its nearby love hotel district, lies between Ueno and Nippori on the Yamanote line?
   A: Uguisudani
3. 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)
4. 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
5. In 2018, only one month went by without a national holiday. Which month?
   A: June
6. 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)
7. 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
8. Which Real Betis player was Japan’s leading goalscorer at the 2018 World Cup?
   A: Takashi Inui
9. Which manga artist created Atom Boy?
   A: Osamu Tezuka
10. 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.