Use Your Noodle! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Captained by women

The tub boats (tarai-bune) date from the 1880s and were mainly used for gathering seaweed and shellfish. They are propelled by a single paddle loosely attached to the side of the boat by a rope loop. The boats are oval in shape and a lot like a wooden barrel in construction. There is a square shaft in the middle of the boat to enable fishing, or just a view of the ocean floor if preferred.

A novelty of the Sado tub boats, the lady skippers wear traditional straw hats that start life as a large circle, bent across the diameter. They are worn with the crease going front to back and are secured under the chin with a ribbon. Their cheerful uniform includes a red tie, brightly coloured shirt and white apron.

The picture is of a statue Captain Cook, pointing to the 'captain' answer.

This question was paddled into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member VegemiteKid.

Answer: Ryuodo

Ryuodo Cave is a part of the Kotoura Caves on Sado Island. It is the largest lava rock cave on the island and it was formed by the erosion of lava that rose from the sea. On sunny days, light reflects off the surface of the water, making it appear blue, like the Blue Grotto in Italy. The cave is accessible by two entrances. The seaward entrance can be approached by watercraft such as kayaks, tub boats and motorboats.

Ryugado is in Kochi
Ryugashido is in Shizuoka
Ryusendo is in Iwaki.

Odo King of France from 888 to 898 provides a hint to the suffix of the correct answer.

This question was spelunked by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

Answer: Turtle

The legend states that a giant turtle saved the fisherman and his boat when they encountered a turbulent sea by allowing them to ride on its back to return to port. There is a shrine built on the rock to the Akagame Myojin god.

The rock itself is a red stone of iron quartz that can be seen from the bathing beach in Akagame Kazashima Nagisa Park. There is a large hollow in the rock through which the ocean passes.

The picture of turtle doves points to the correct answer.

This question was ridden into the quiz on the back of a giant turtle by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

Answer: 11

The Chokokuji Temple, which is famously known as the 'temple of flowers', was founded in 807 by Kobo Daishi. Whilst it flowers in all seasons with its dazzling array of azaleas, cosmos and hydrangeas, it is best known for its stunning plantings of peonies.

However, better known than the flowers is the temple's collection of statues. The most notable of these are three statues of the eleven headed goddess Kannon, all of which (the statues, not the heads) have been categorised as National Treasures of Japan. Legend has it that Kannon was the bringer of happiness and the goddess of mercy who'd work assiduously to rid individuals of their suffering. When she had become so distressed that she couldn't remove all beings from the cycle of suffering, Amida Buddha granted her eleven heads and a thousand arms. In this way she could hear, see and perceive all, making her task so much easier.

There was a not so subtle (prime) clue given in the question. Hope you didn't miss it, because 11 was the only prime number option provided as an answer. And if you didn't get the prime clue, perhaps the 'legs 11' picture (a bingo call) helped!

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who wondered for a while which hand to write with. When it got too difficult, he decided to use a pen.

Answer: A demon mask

Onidaiko, or ondeko in local dialect, is a dance that is performed at festivals often around April and September to pray for a bountiful crop and give thanks for a rich harvest. It also serves to repel evil. While 'oni' generally means 'demon', they are regarded as deities on Sado Island. Performers portraying 'oni' put on scary masks and dance to the accompaniment of taiko drums. They may enter homes to cleanse the residence of evil, absorbing the negative energy onto themselves. When they exit, they brush off the negative energy from their bodies using the drumsticks and pound it into the taiko. After the ritual the taiko is brought to a shrine or temple for purification.

Onidaiko can be broadly categorised into five styles, although the hundred-odd villages on Sado each have their own variations and no two are exactly the same. There is a yearly festival called Sadokoku Ondeko Dot-com that showcases the many forms of Onidaiko. It is held every May in the Ryotsu area.

A picture of a gas mask provided a hint to the correct answer.

This question was drummed out by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

Answer: Pillow

The Latin word 'tumulus' means a small hill, mound, or heap of earth and in this case, applies to the grass-covered pillowy rocks at the end of the stunning isthmus. In summer, it is a popular bathing and camping spot on the northern Sotokaifu coast. The location boasts astonishingly clear water, and when the tide is right, it's possible to traverse the isthmus to reach the rocks. The name of the rocks, Futatsugame, translates to 'two turtles'. A 4km (2.5m) nature trail, which takes about an hour to cover on foot, connects Futatsugame and the giant Onogame peak.

The ring pillow was a big hint for you and Udon-Kun alike!

This question was laid to rest by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.

Answer: Weather

The Ishina Natural Cedar Forest sits on the north side of the Osado Mountains. It sits at an elevation of 900 metres (2,950 feet) and is exposed to both strong winds and heavy snow. These three factors have combined to twist the trees into a series of unusual shapes. In addition, during the Edo period, gold was discovered in the area and the timbers from the cedar forests were used in the processing operations. The shogunate removed the small number of useful trees but left the misshapen ones, which made up the bulk of the forest.

Today there is a walking trail created through the forest and showcase trees that are up to 300 years old. The hike, which will take about an hour, also highlights five symbolic cedars; the Elephant Tusk Cedar (Zouge Sugi), so named because its bent branches resemble the tusks of the giant Mammoth; the Four Kings Cedar (Shitenno Sugi) which has four trunks connected at the roots; the Big Black Cedar (Daikoku Sugi) located in the middle of the trail where it hasn't been impacted as heavily as its cousins and is tall and straight; the Family Cedar (Kazoku Sugi) that is made up of five trees that have all grown from one trunk, and the Feather Cedar (Hagoromo Sugi) that has branches that curve out gracefully and look like a spread out kimono.

Weather is the only answer that relates to the picture of a wind sock.

Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 went out on a limb and bent over backwards to produce this question.

Answer: Volcanic activity

Onogame came into being by volcanic activity that occurred some 100 million years ago. Then about three million years ago changes in the earth's crust caused a bulge to form that is now the monolith. Enshrined on top of the rock is a dragon god as a stone lantern to preserve safety for sailing.

Onogame is one of the must-see scenic wonders of Sado Island. In late May to early June the Hemerocallis dumortieri, a day lily, blooms, with 500,000 to 1,000,000 flowers blooming on any given day. The whole rock is covered in the yellow blooms. There are trails going around the base of the rock as well as to the top where the shrine is.

The picture of a (gas!) ring of fire points to a volcanic version.

This question was cultivated into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

Answer: Osaki Lighthouse

Senkaku Bay Ageshima Park (Senkakuwan Ageshima Yuen) is a tourist attraction described as one of the most scenic spots on Sado. The observation deck offers a beautiful panoramic view of Senkaku Bay. The Sado Osaki Lighthouse, made famous when it featured in a Japanese film, stands before the Machikobashi (or Yusenkyo) Bridge, which must be traversed to reach the viewing deck. Visitors to the area can tour the bay in glass-bottomed boats from March to November.

The sun in the picture provides light - stronger than a lighthouse!

This question was guided into the quiz by Phoenix Rising's JCSon.

Answer: Sado's gold and silver mines

Mumyoiyaki is the traditional pottery produced from the clay that is a by-product of extracting gold and silver from the mines of Sado. It is known for its brilliant reddish-brown colour. The pieces are fired at an extremely high temperature, producing solid and beautiful dishes. Unusually, as the pieces age and with extended use, the colour becomes more vibrant. The Aikawa gold and silver mine was the largest on Sado and was in operation from the Heian period until the late 1980s.

Displaying the work of traditional artisans, the Aikawa Gino Densho Tenjikan centre exhibits folk arts that have been passed down through successive generations. They include Bunya puppets and sakiori, which is rag-weaving created using a traditional back-strap loom.

The minecraft character was the hint to the correct answer.

This question was slapped on the wheel and whirred into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member VegemiteKid.