Japan, a True Pacific Pearl Trivia Quiz

Answer: Torii

These lovely shrines are known as torii and are usually a vermilion color which is thought to keep evil spirits away. Torii are thought to serve as boundaries between the spirit and the human world. This image is of the Great Torii of Itsukushima Shrine which was originally constructed around 1168. Torii are usually associated with Shinto shrines where they serve as a gate from the outside, evil world, into the serene paradise of the temple.

The other three words are as follows: Konnichiwa=Hello; Sayonara=Good-bye; and Domo=Thank you.

Answer: The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima (1945)

The Genbaku Dome was once a beautiful exhibition hall designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel. It was one of the few buildings still standing after Hiroshima became the first city to be the target of an atomic bomb. It is one of the memorials found in The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Sitting in the middle of the city, the park is a constant reminder of the tragedy of World War II.

The city of Hiroshima is a vibrant, green, modern city. Hustling and bustling with life, it has not forgotten its past.

Answer: Mount Fuji

Found on the Japanese island of Honshu, Mount Fuji has served as a cultural icon for the Japanese since time immemorial. The name of the mountain and its origin is a matter of debate. Some scholars believe that the name is derived from the Yamato language and refers to the fire goddess Fuchi.

Other linguists believe the name comes from the Ainu language and translates to "everlasting life". The other three options are all a type of Japanese food: soba are noodles; gohan is a type of cooked rice; and miso refers to soup.

Answer: Self-mummified Buddhist monks

On a visit to northern Japan you may run into a sokushinbutsu. This term is used for Buddhist monks who died as an ultimate sacrifice of self-denial. For three years, the monks would only eat seeds and nuts while engaging in strenuous physical activity designed to strip them of their body fat.

This would be followed by another three years on a diet of bark, roots and the poisonous urushi tree tea. This caused heavy vomiting, rapid dehydration, and prohibited infestation by maggots when the monk died.

The monk would finally encase himself into a stone tomb which made any kind of movement impossible and await death. These self-mummified Buddhist monks are looked at with pride, reverence and awe by the Japanese people.

Answer: True

Hashima Island is a tiny island off the coast of Nagasaki. The island is ringed by a seawall and is covered by tightly packed buildings. At one time, this 16-acre island was one of the most densely populated places on the planet with a population of over 5,000.

The island was the center of a vast underground coal deposit. When the Mitsubishi-owned mine was closed in 1974, everyone left and everything was left just as it was. It has been uninhabited since that time. In 2009, the island was opened for public tours and a visit to this ghost island might be one of the most unusual things you will see on a visit to Japan.

Answer: White Egret Castle

One of the most beautiful buildings in Japan might be the Castle of Himeji. It is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Japanese fortess architecture in the world. It is built upon a natural hill above a town of the same name. Known for its beautiful white façade and graceful rooflines the castle is sometimes called the 'White Egret Castle'.

The castle is considered one of the most haunted places in the country and has been featured in countless Japanese films and novels.

Answer: Honshu

The beautiful Nachi Waterfall, on the island of Honshu, is one of the highest waterfalls in the country. A Buddhist shrine and a Shinto temple are built at this site of peace and serenity. These falls can be observed at the basin into which they fall, but many tourists prefer to see this magnificent sight from an observation deck which is higher up. Around the top of the waterfall are sacred rice-straw ropes.

These ropes may be the result of an old tradition in which young lovers would jump off the falls in the belief that they would spend eternity together.

Answer: About 14,000

The country of Japan is a volcanic archipelago which consists of 14,125 islands. Of these islands, only about 250 are inhabited. The four main islands of Japan are Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Hokkaido. Honshu is the main island and home to the cities of Yokohama, Osaka, Tokyo, and Kobe. To the south, Japan has a chain of tropical island known as the Ryukyu Islands.

The largest of these islands is called Okinawa.

Answer: Japanese Macaque

The Jigokudani Monkey Park is famous for its amazing population of Japanese macaques. These unusual animals are the most northern living non-human primate on the planet. In the Shinto religion, these monkeys are thought to be messengers for the mountain and river gods. Located in a remote area, these macaques relax in their own personal spa, surrounded by snow and jagged cliffs. The name of the park is derived from the local words for "Hell's Valley".

Answer: It is one of the most popular places in the world to commit suicide.

For centuries, the Aokigahara Forest has been associated with demons, ghosts, disappearances, and suicide. There are signs around the perimeter of the forest urging visitors to think of their families before entering the forest. Annually, over 50 corpses a year are found by volunteers who clean the woods, but many more are lost forever in this thick, partially impenetrable forest. Japanese newspapers no longer report the numbers in the news for fear of making the place even more popular.

The exact number of people who commit suicide in these woods varies by year, and by the source you are reading.

Many locals will not even enter this forest as they believe it is haunted.