Cultural Insights 🎎

Question 1

照る照る坊主

Answer 1

てるてるぼうず

Ghost looking things made while wishing for sunny days

Question 2

人魂

Answer 2

ひとだま

will-o-wisps around ghosts

Question 3

謝礼金

Answer 3

しゃれいきん
Reward money

If someone returns lost money, they are entitled to 10% of it from the owner. The owner must contact the finder directly to arrange 謝礼金. If the owner is never found after 6 months, the money goes back to the finder. Law requires 謝礼金 to be offered but it doesn’t have to be taken.

Question 4

血液型

血液型、何型？

Answer 4

けつえきがた
Blood Type
Personality Theory

A: earnest, neat
-stubborn, anxious

O: +easygoing, good leadership
-insensitive, unpunctual

B: +passionate, creative
-selfish, uncooperative

AB: +talented, composed
-eccentric, two-faced

Percentage in Japan
A: 40%
O: 30%
B: 20%
AB: 10%

ブラハラ
Blood harassment
Bullying based on blood type

Question 5

蛍の光

Answer 5

ほたるのひかり
Glow of the Fireflies

Closing theme song for shops

Question 6

進撃の巨人

Answer 6

しんげきのきょじん

Attack on Titan

Question 7

浴衣

Answer 7

ゆかた
Yukata
Light summer kimono

浴 bathe
衣 clothes
→In the past, yukatas were worn after taking baths, but now used for summer festivals.

Question 8

ヒトカラ

Answer 8

To do karaoke alone

Question 9

納豆

Answer 9

なっとう

Natto 🤢

Question 10

豆腐

Answer 10

とうふ

Tofu

Question 11

皇帝

Answer 11

こうてい

Emperor

Question 12

梅雨

Answer 12

つゆ

Rainy season

Question 13

初詣

Answer 13

はつもうで

New Year’s visit to a shrine

Question 14

年賀状

Answer 14

ねんがしょう

New Year’s post card

Question 15

のれん

Answer 15

Short curtain hung at shop entrances

Question 16

屋台

Answer 16

やたい

Open air food stalls

Question 17

鰮

Answer 17

いわし
Sardine
Cat food like fish we get at lunch

Question 18

家具転倒防止グッズ

Answer 18

かぐてんとうぼうし
グッズ
Goods that nail furniture together or to the wall to prevent it from falling over during an earthquake.

Question 19

千羽鶴

Answer 19

せんばづる

String of 1000 paper cranes

Question 20

短冊

Answer 20

たんざく

Pieces of paper people write wishes on for Tanabata.

Question 21

新盆

Answer 21

しんぼん

From お盆, a ceremony for newly deceased

Question 22

仏様

仏像

Answer 22

ほとけさま Buddha

ぶつぞう Buddha statue

Question 23

和暦

Answer 23

われき
Japanese Calendar
Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei

Question 24

灯籠

Answer 24

とうろう

Hanging lanterns

Question 25

田植え

Answer 25

たうえ

Rice planting

Question 26

錦鯉

Answer 26

にしきごい

Koi fish

Question 27

お囃子

Answer 27

おはやし

Accompaniment for traditional musical performances
*Drums and flutes at Gion Matsuri

Question 28

祇園祭

Answer 28

Gion Matsuri

Question 29

鯉のぼり

Answer 29

こいのぼり

Carp streamers