Food
Idioms
Vocabulary
Kanji
Culture
100
How is Japanese/General Asian rice different from Western rice?
x5 points if you can name the Japanese slang for Western food (hint: it's related to rice)
(Japanese) Short grain rice is more starchy and thus stickier when cooked! Long grain rice is less starchy, and more commonly used for things like pilaf.
横飯 (よこめし) is literally Horizontal Rice, or Western food.
100
When do you use the phrase 耳にたこができる (mimi ni tako ga dekiru)?
Literally meaning you “grow callouses on your ears", you can use this phrase when you're tired of hearing the same thing repeatedly.
100
This is the word for a white-collar worker. They are often expect to work long hours, additional overtime, etc.
+300 bonus points: Over a quarter of Japanese companies report having their employees clock over X hours of work a week. Guess X within 5 hours!
Salaryman (サラリーマン)
Bonus: These salarymen/women are working 80 hours a week!
100
Kanji for feather (はね)
羽
100
You may have seen this all over Japan! What is it?
Tanuki (狸 or たぬき)
200
Name this food!
Dorayaki (どら焼き, どらやき
200
When do you use the phrase 言わぬが花 (iwanu ga hana)?
Literally meaning, "not speaking is the flower," it means "some things are better left unsaid; Silence is golden"
200
This is a 2-word phrase used to describe someone full of energy and excitement (hint: you may have heard this on terrace house, it's also english)
High Tension! ハイテンション (はい てんしょん)
200
Kanji for chopsticks (はし)
箸
200
This is the iconic Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi. It was originally serialized in Nakayoshi from 1991 to 1997 and adapted into an anime and broadcasted from 1992 to 1997.
Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン)!
300
Name this food!
茶碗蒸し, Chawanmushi! Literally meaning "tea cup steam"
300
When do you use the phrase 顔が広い (kao ga hiroi)?
The literal translation is that their "face is wide/big". Of course, the true meaning is that this persion is popular!
300
What is the word for equality; impartiality; evenness?
平等 (びょうどう, byoudou)
300
Kanji for free time (ひま)
暇
300
Name the director of movies Weathering with You, Your Name, etc.
Makoto Shinkai (君の名は)
400
Lucky x2 multiplier! This question is worth 800 points!
What is the full version of the Japanese slang, ヌーハラ? Hint: This surfaced in 2010, in part due to concerns raised by tourists!
ヌーハラ, from "nuudoru harasumento", noodle harassment was coined to describe the loud slurping noise caused when eating noodles.
400
When do you use the phrase あばたもえくぼ?
Literally meaning, "even pockmarks are dimples", this refers to how one will overlook the shortcomings of someone they love (i.e. love is blind)!
400
The verb for to raise; to elevate; to do up (hair).
Example: 髪も___ほうが私は好きだ。
上げる(あげる)
Example: 髪も 上げた ほうが私は好きだ。
400
Kanji for cute (かわい)
可愛い
400
What is Yusuke's (from Terrace House Aloha State) stage name?
x2 points if you can name the 2 girls he's attempted to pursue.
500
Explain the 4 dishes of Ichiju Sansai (一汁三菜 ), the foundation of a Japanese meal.
Gohan (ご飯) – a bowl of plain steamed rice
Shiru (汁) – a bowl of soup, which may contain vegetables or tofu
Okazu (おかず) – main dish and 2 side dishes composed of vegetables, tofu, fish or meat
Kouno mono(香の物) – a small plate of pickled seasonal vegetables
500
When do you use the phrase 猫の手も借りたい (neko no te mo karitai)?
Bonus +100 points for cats
You can use this phrase to indicate that you're so busy you’d be willing to borrow a cat’s paw for help
500
The word for absentmindedness.
Example: かれは なにをいっても ______。
うわのそら (uwanosora)
500
Kanji for uncommon, queerness, strangeness (こと こと, なる け)
異
500
What year was the nintendo DS released? Must get the year correct! x2 points if you get the exact American release date?
November 21, 2004 (US) and December 2, 2004 (JP)