⚡ Japanese Myth Trivia Questions & Answers
Below are 30 free japanese myth trivia questions with answers — part of Mythology trivia on BUZZ. Want a real challenge that adapts to what you know? Play the Mythology quiz — no signup needed to start.
30 Japanese Myth trivia questions
Q1. Which Shinto god was born from Izanagi's nose after his purifying bath?
Answer: Susanoo
💡 Susanoo's siblings Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi were born from Izanagi's left and right eyes.
Q2. Which sun goddess is worshipped as the mythical ancestress of Japan's imperial line?
Answer: Amaterasu
💡 Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi carried down the sword, mirror, and jewel that became Japan's imperial regalia.
Q3. Which Japanese god of fishing and luck is the only native-born member of the Seven Lucky Gods?
Answer: Ebisu
💡 He's usually shown grinning and holding a fishing rod with a red sea bream tucked under his arm.
Q4. Which Japanese god of wealth is shown holding a magic mallet atop bales of rice?
Answer: Daikokuten
💡 His mallet, the uchide no kozuchi, is said to grant any wish when shaken.
Q5. Which Shinto moon god was born from Izanagi's right eye?
Answer: Tsukuyomi
💡 Tsukuyomi killing the food goddess Uke Mochi is the myth-reason the sun and moon never share the sky.
Q6. Which Japanese fox spirit serves as a divine messenger for the rice god Inari?
Answer: Kitsune
💡 A kitsune is said to grow an extra tail every century, topping out at nine.
Q7. Which goddess, always pictured with a biwa lute, is the only female of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods?
Answer: Benzaiten
💡 She's a Japanese adaptation of the Hindu river goddess Saraswati.
Q8. What collective name describes Japan's group of seven fortune-bringing deities?
Answer: Shichifukujin
💡 They're said to sail into harbor aboard a treasure ship, the takarabune, during the New Year.
Q9. Which moon princess was found as an infant inside a glowing bamboo stalk?
Answer: Kaguya-hime
💡 After finding her, the old bamboo cutter found a gold nugget inside every stalk he cut.
Q10. Which fire god's violent birth caused the death of his mother, Izanami?
Answer: Kagutsuchi
💡 A grieving Izanagi beheaded newborn Kagutsuchi, and his blood and body gave rise to eight more gods.
Q11. Which peach-born hero sailed to Demon Island with a dog, monkey, and pheasant?
Answer: Momotaro
💡 Momotaro's animal companions each demanded a share of his dumplings before agreeing to help.
Q12. Which fisherman opened a forbidden box after visiting the undersea Dragon Palace?
Answer: Urashima Taro
💡 Opening the tamatebako box instantly aged Urashima Taro by the hundred years he'd really been gone.
Q13. Which Japanese war god is honored at more Shinto shrines than any deity but Inari?
Answer: Hachiman
💡 Hachiman's name means 'God of Eight Banners,' recalling the sky-banners said to mark his birth.
Q14. Which Japanese river imp loses its strength if water spills from its head-dish?
Answer: Kappa
💡 Kappa are said to love cucumbers so much that cucumber sushi rolls are named kappamaki after them.
Q15. Name the food goddess whose slain body gave rise to rice, millet, and silkworms.
Answer: Uke Mochi
💡 Moon god Tsukuyomi killed Uke Mochi in disgust after she conjured a feast by spitting it from her mouth.
Q16. Which yokai looks human by day but stretches its neck wildly by night?
Answer: Rokurokubi
💡 Its name literally means "pulley neck," after the mechanical winding pulley.
Q17. Which yokai spider disguises itself as a beautiful woman to trap travelers?
Answer: Jorogumo
💡 Legend says a golden orb-weaver spider gains this power once it reaches 400 years old.
Q18. Which cat yokai is known by its tail splitting into two forks with age?
Answer: Nekomata
💡 A nekomata is even said to gain the power to raise and control the dead.
Q19. Which Japanese dragon god rules the sea from his undersea palace, Ryugu-jo?
Answer: Ryujin
💡 He owns two magic jewels said to be able to summon or calm the ocean's tides.
Q20. Which hooved, deer-like creature is said to appear only under a wise, virtuous ruler?
Answer: Kirin
💡 Japan's kirin is said to be so gentle it won't even step on a blade of grass.
Q21. Name the three-legged crow said to have guided Emperor Jimmu on his journey.
Answer: Yatagarasu
💡 Its three legs are said to symbolize heaven, earth, and humanity.
Q22. Which Japanese mountain goblin was first shown with a crow's beak, not a long nose?
Answer: Tengu
💡 Tengu didn't grow their famous long red nose in art until around the 14th century.
Q23. Which shapeshifting raccoon dog is famous for drumming on its own round belly?
Answer: Tanuki
💡 A Japanese saying claims tanuki can pull off one more magical transformation than foxes can.
Q24. Which term names a household tool that gains a mischievous spirit after a century?
Answer: Tsukumogami
💡 A year-end cleaning custom in old Japan thanked tools by name to keep them from turning tsukumogami.
Q25. Which snow spirit of Japanese folklore is said to leave no footprints on snow?
Answer: Yuki-onna
💡 Some yuki-onna tales say she can fall for a traveler and spare his life out of love.
Q26. Besides a mirror and jewel, which sword completes Japan's three sacred treasures?
Answer: Kusanagi
💡 The three treasures stand for valour, wisdom, and benevolence, and no photo of them is ever released.
Q27. What Japanese concept holds that spoken words carry a living spiritual power?
Answer: Kotodama
💡 The belief dates back at least to the Nara-period poetry collection, the Manyoshu.
Q28. What did Izanagi see when he lit a torch and looked back at Izanami in Yomi?
Answer: Her decaying corpse
💡 Eight thunder gods were said to have sprouted from her decomposing body.
Q29. What fruit did Izanagi throw to repel the demons chasing him out of Yomi?
Answer: Peaches
💡 This myth is said to be the root of the peach's demon-warding power in Japanese folklore.
Q30. Which yokai licks grime and scum in filthy old Japanese bathhouses at night?
Answer: Akaname
💡 Its name literally translates to "filth licker," first recorded in a 1776 yokai print series.
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