Trivia: Who directly hired samurai for protection?
Shogun
Ninja
Daimyo
Tokugawa
The correct answer is Daimyo
So why is this answer correct? : If the shogun was the head of feudal Japan, daimyo were the limbs. Known as vassals of the shogun, these daimyo (meaning “great land owners”) controlled land and therefore political power. But with this power came friction and, eventually, war among the various daimyo, who turned to samurai to protect both their land and their lives.
Trivia: Which country’s flag has the most colors?
Luxembourg
Belize
Kazakhstan
Ghana
The correct answer is Belize
So why is this answer correct? : The flag of Belize in Central America has 12 different colors, most of which are found on the coat of arms in the center of the flag, where you’ll find several shades of browns, yellows, blues, and greens. The flag of Belize is also relatively new — it was adopted as the national flag in 1981 shortly after the country declared independence.
Trivia: A samurai without a lord or master was called what?
Daimyo
Ninja
Ronin
Bushido
The correct answer is Ronin
So why is this answer correct? : Ronin, which means “drifter” or “wanderer,” are depicted romantically in samurai films like “Lone Wolf and Cub,” but in reality, ronin were often rebellious. A famous incident in the early 18th century involved a group of 47 ronin who set out to avenge the death of their former master, and on December 14, 1702, they succeeded. The story of those 47 ronin remains a popular Japanese legend.
Trivia: What does the orange color on Ireland’s flag represent?
Hope
Peace
Catholics
Protestants
The correct answer is Protestants
So why is this answer correct? : Introduced in 1848, the Irish flag represents the often fraught religious history of the country. It features three vertical color stripes: green, symbolizing Irish Catholics, and orange, representing Irish Protestants, which make up a much smaller percentage of the population. The stripe of white in the middle represents hope for lasting peace between the two.
Trivia: What code is defined as the samurai’s “Way of the Warrior?”
Seppuku
Kamikaze
Nobunaga
Bushidō
The correct answer is Bushidō
So why is this answer correct? : Bushidō wasn’t just a few rules — it was an entire way of life. Loosely similar to a medieval knight’s Code of Chivalry, Bushidō addressed how a samurai was supposed to behave, fight, and see the world in general. Bushidō differed among samurai clans and evolved throughout Japanese history.
Trivia: What country had a plain green flag until 2011?
South Africa
Denmark
Libya
Vietnam
The correct answer is Libya
So why is this answer correct? : After Muammar al-Qaddafi overthrew Egypt’s monarchy, he then changed Libya’s flag to an all-green look. When it flew from 1977 to 2011, it was the only plain-colored flag in the world. The move was meant to symbolize the “Green Revolution” that Qaddafi promised his citizens, a revolution that would bring water and other resources to make the desert fertile. The flag returned to the original striped design when Qaddafi was overthrown in 2011.
Trivia: What insect was a popular symbol among samurai?
Dragonfly
Mantis
Cricket
Ladybug
The correct answer is Dragonfly
So why is this answer correct? : The dragonfly was a common emblem in samurai culture, and was known in Japanese as “kachimushi” (which translates to “victorious insect”). Dragonflies would commonly appear on the crest affixed to the front of samurai helmets, known as the maedate. These insects were respected for never wavering from their path while hunting, which drew comparisons to the samurai.
Trivia: Which of these country’s flags has a different front and back?
Costa Rica
Iran
Moldova
Spain
The correct answer is Moldova
So why is this answer correct? : Most flags look the same on the front and back, but three countries deviate from the norm. The Moldovan flag displays the coat of arms only on one side. The back of Paraguay’s flag shows the treasury seal. Saudi Arabia’s flag goes beyond being two-sided and instead sews two flags together because they show sacred writing.
Trivia: During what era did the samurai officially come to an end?
Keiō
Meiji
Taishō
Shōwa
The correct answer is Meiji
So why is this answer correct? : The Meiji Restoration (beginning in 1868) marked the modernization of Japan, and the end of classes such as the samurai. The year 1870 saw the institutionalization of a Japanese military academy, and wearing samurai swords was banned in 1876. Many young leaders of the Meiji Restoration were ex-samurai who realized that Japan needed to reform as the world around it evolved.
Trivia: What is the only country in the world with a Bible on its flag?
Greece
Switzerland
Portugal
Dominican Republic
The correct answer is Dominican Republic
So why is this answer correct? : About one-third of the world’s countries feature religious symbols on their national flags. Christian symbols are found on the flags of 31 countries, but the only one of those countries to feature the Bible is the Dominican Republic. In the center of the national flag is the country’s coat of arms, which includes a cross, the branches of a palm and laurel, and the Bible.