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Quiz about Japanese Myths AJ
Quiz about Japanese Myths AJ

Japanese Myths A-J Trivia Quiz


This quiz is an alphabetical set of Japanese gods, goddesses, and other mythical creatures from A to J. I hope you find it entertaining and educational.

A multiple-choice quiz by DarklonMystik. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
370,276
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
180
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Question 1 of 10
1. Beginning with the letter A. This is the Shinto goddess of the sun. She once produced three new goddesses by chewing up the pieces of her brother's broken sword and spitting them out. Who is she? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Beginning with the letter B. This nightmare-eating creature from Japan is often depicted with an elephant's head, tusks, and trunk, with horns and tiger's claws. What is this creature called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Beginning with the letter C. This paper lantern ghost from Japan forms when a
paper lantern splits along one of its wooden ribs, causing it to form a gaping mouth with a wild flapping tongue. It may also form one or two eyes on the upper half of the lantern. What is the name of this playful spirit?
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Beginning with the letter D. This Japanese spirit of vengeance has only three fingers on each hand representing anger, greed, and ignorance, and only one eye. They are said to be the ghosts of old men who toiled hard on their rice fields, come to haunt neglectful owners until the wasteful owners starts taking care of the field or run away. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Beginning with the latter E. This in a Japanese spirit creature composed entirely of smoke. It resides in bonfires and it can take human form. What is this lightweight spirit called? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Beginning with the letter F. This is one of the oldest Shinto gods, often shown carrying a large bag of wind on his shoulders. Who is this leopard-skin-wearing, red-headed, black, humanoid-looking god? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Beginning with the letter G. For longer than 1000 years when humans wander too close to battlefields and mass grave sites in Japan at night, these extremely large anguished spirits will catch and decapitate them. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Beginning with the letter H. Often called the Japanese god of war, this god would be better defined as the god of warriors and the protector of Japan and its people. Who is this archer god who incorporates elements of both Shinto and Buddhism? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Beginning with the letter I. This is the Japanese goddess of creation and death. She died shortly after giving birth. Her husband followed her to the underworld, but failed to bring her back to the living world as she had already ate the food of the Yomi. Who is this mother of gods and demons? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Beginning with the letter J. This is a Buddhist divine being who is one of the most loved in all Japan. It is common see statues of him on the roadsides, especially in or near graveyards. Who is this protector of the vulnerable, especially children who have died before their parents? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Beginning with the letter A. This is the Shinto goddess of the sun. She once produced three new goddesses by chewing up the pieces of her brother's broken sword and spitting them out. Who is she?

Answer: Amaterasu

Amaterasu is the Shinto goddess of the sun. The god of storms, and the god of the moon are her brothers. The three siblings are said to have formed Japan by painting the landscape.
2. Beginning with the letter B. This nightmare-eating creature from Japan is often depicted with an elephant's head, tusks, and trunk, with horns and tiger's claws. What is this creature called?

Answer: Baku

The Baku was originally described in Chinese folklore as a shy, mythical chimera with rhinoceros eyes, an elephant's trunk, tiger paws, and an ox tail. It originally protected against evil and pestilence. Sculptures of the Baku can be seen at the Konnoh Hachimangu Shrine, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.
3. Beginning with the letter C. This paper lantern ghost from Japan forms when a paper lantern splits along one of its wooden ribs, causing it to form a gaping mouth with a wild flapping tongue. It may also form one or two eyes on the upper half of the lantern. What is the name of this playful spirit?

Answer: Chochin-obake

The Chochin-obake are considered harmless spirits that delight in surprising and scaring humans. Laughing and rolling its large tongue and big eyes at guests in the home are the Chochi-obakes favorite things to do.
4. Beginning with the letter D. This Japanese spirit of vengeance has only three fingers on each hand representing anger, greed, and ignorance, and only one eye. They are said to be the ghosts of old men who toiled hard on their rice fields, come to haunt neglectful owners until the wasteful owners starts taking care of the field or run away.

Answer: Doo-ta-bo

Doro-ta-bo are the ghost of old men who toiled hard in the rice fields. When a neglectful owner would not take proper care of the land the Doro-ta-bo would rise up each night out of the muddy overgrown fields and roam said fields mournfully calling out, "Give me back my rice field!"
5. Beginning with the latter E. This in a Japanese spirit creature composed entirely of smoke. It resides in bonfires and it can take human form. What is this lightweight spirit called?

Answer: Enenra

Some say that only those pure of heart can see the the Enenra. Characters based on the Enenra include Smoke from the video game "Mortal Kombat", Enra Enra from the anime series "Shaman King", and Ghastly from "Pokemon".
6. Beginning with the letter F. This is one of the oldest Shinto gods, often shown carrying a large bag of wind on his shoulders. Who is this leopard-skin-wearing, red-headed, black, humanoid-looking god?

Answer: Fujin

Fujin first let the winds out of his bag at the creation of the world, when he cleared the morning mists that filled the space between heaven and earth so the sun shone.
7. Beginning with the letter G. For longer than 1000 years when humans wander too close to battlefields and mass grave sites in Japan at night, these extremely large anguished spirits will catch and decapitate them.

Answer: Gasha-dokuro

The Gasha-dokuro: having not received proper rites, these giant spirits of unburied warriors and famine victims make a chattering sound like "Gachi Gachi" as they move trough the night. When they catch a person who is alone at night they either bite off the victim,s head or, failing that, crush them.
8. Beginning with the letter H. Often called the Japanese god of war, this god would be better defined as the god of warriors and the protector of Japan and its people. Who is this archer god who incorporates elements of both Shinto and Buddhism?

Answer: Hachiman

Hachiman was also worshiped by fishermen and peasants as a god of agriculture. Hachiman has over twenty-five thousand Shinto shrines dedicated to him in Japan. The second most of any Japanese god or goddess.
9. Beginning with the letter I. This is the Japanese goddess of creation and death. She died shortly after giving birth. Her husband followed her to the underworld, but failed to bring her back to the living world as she had already ate the food of the Yomi. Who is this mother of gods and demons?

Answer: Izanami-no-Mikoto

Izanami and her husband Izanagi were summoned into being by the first gods Kunitokotachi and Amenominakanushi. Izanami gave birth to several spirits including the demons Awashima and Hiruko, and many deities.
10. Beginning with the letter J. This is a Buddhist divine being who is one of the most loved in all Japan. It is common see statues of him on the roadsides, especially in or near graveyards. Who is this protector of the vulnerable, especially children who have died before their parents?

Answer: Jizo

Jizo is also the protector of the souls of stillborn, miscarried or aborted fetuses. He saves these children from eternally piling stones by the Sanzu River as penance, since they do not have enough good deeds from the time they were alive to earn their crossing into the afterlife. He does this by hiding the children in his robes.
Source: Author DarklonMystik

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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