1. The word ‘Japan’ is an exonym, meaning it is called this only outside the country. The natives themselves don’t call it Japan. The name of the country in its native language is ‘Nihon ’ . This comes from the belief that the inhabitants of the country were the first ones to see something every day. What does ‘Nihon’ mean in Japanese which is depicted in their flag?
2. This word actually means ‘rice seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt’. What we think it actually means has another name — ‘Sashimi’. The dish originates from the practice of storing salted seafood in fermented rice for months at a time. The lacto-fermentation of the rice would prevent the seafood from spoiling. In the 14th century, it was discovered that adding vinegar enhanced the taste and also increased the dish’s longevity. What is the name of the dish and what is the wrong assumption of what it contains?
3. This cultural form originating from Japan has a name which means ‘whimsical or impromptu pictures’. It has been in existence since the 12th century when the first instance of this art form was seen. Since the language itself is read from right to left, the books with these art forms follow the same pattern. Initially when English translations were made, they flipped the pictures and published it. This enraged purists as it showed left-handed samurai, who didn’t exist in the original book. Hence nowadays even English translations follow the right to left format. What is the name of this art form?
4. This dish, although of Chinese origin, is now considered quintessentially Japanese. It consists of wheat noodles served in a meat broth and flavoured with soy sauce. Every region in Japan has its own variation. In 1958, Momofuku Ando, a Japanese inventor developed a special type of noodles where, by just adding boiling water, you would get an approximation of this special dish. This was voted the greatest Japanese invention of the 20th century by the Japanese. What is this dish known as?
5. Prunus serrulata is a type of tree found in the temperate zone that produces a pink flower which is the national flower of Japan. The tree is cultivated purely for ornamental use and though it shares its name and genes with a popular fruit the tree does not produce any fruit at all. One of the most ancient practices is ‘Hanami’ which started in 700 AD that literally means picnicking under this tree. Hanami festivals happen throughout Japan and attract millions of visitors throughout the period of bloom. What is this tree that has been part of Japanese art for centuries?
6. This is a traditional Japanese three-line poem with seventeen syllables, written in a 5/ 7/ 5 syllable count. Often focusing on images from nature, the poem emphasises simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression. Rabindranath Tagore was an exponent of this form and even composed a few in Bengali. What is this poetic form known as?
7. America and Japan top the charts for the highest rates of a particular phenomenon, but with one big difference. In the US it’s mostly youngsters involved but in Japan, children make up only 2% of this population. Men in their 20s and 30s make up 98% of this. The reason is that almost all business are family run and this practice allows a family to maintain control over the business. The practice has been followed since the 1600s and even now around 75,000 men per year go through this process. What is this process that we would normally associate happening with a much younger population?
8. You would most probably know only two versions of this particular confectionery. In Japan, they have flavours such as grilled corn, Camembert cheese, Earl Grey tea, grape, and wasabi. They are routinely distributed to children during the exam season as the Japanese way of calling this is ‘___ to ___ su ’, which sounds exactly like ‘You are sure to pass’. What is this confectionery you usually take a break for?
9. The Sanzaru are three characters depicted by Japanese Macaques called Mizaru, Mikazaru and Mazaru. They are a pictorial maxim, a depiction of a proverb or saying. They showcase the proverb by each doing an action that represents shutting out a certain mode of communication. What is the Sanzaru and what is the proverb they showcase?
10. The Kimigayo is the world’s oldest and shortest of its kind. It has just 32 characters and runs for 11 musical bars. Officially translated as ‘His Imperial Majesty’s Reign’ what is the Kimigayo ?
Answers
1. The Land of the Rising Sun
2. Sushi, raw fish
3. Manga
4. Ramen
5. Cherry blossom
6. Haiku
7. Adoption
8. Kit Kat
9. Three Wise Monkeys - “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”.
10. The Japanese national anthem
A molecular biologist from Madurai, our quizmaster enjoys trivia and music, and is working on a rock ballad called ‘Coffee is a Drink, Kaapi is an Emotion’. @bertyashley
