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Japanese Inventions

Can you name these inventions and discoveries which were made by people of Japanese descent?
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: November 1, 2021
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First submittedNovember 1, 2021
Times taken17,361
Average score55.6%
Rating4.52
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Clue
Year
Answer
Hotel with very tiny rooms, sometimes stacked on top of one another
1979
Capsule hotel
Circular media for storing up to 74 minute of music
1982
Compact disc
Wristwatches that use this type of crystal
1967
Quartz
Martial arts style that originated in Okinawa
?
Karate
Martial arts style in the Olympic games
1882
Judo
This thing
1994
QR code
These things
1997
Emoji
Strand of repeated DNA which can be used for gene editing (hint: acronym)
1987
CRISPR
Addictive drug which gives people manic energy
1893
Methamphetamine
The 113th element of the Periodic Table, named for the country of Japan
2004
Nihonium
Type of salt which gives food an "umami" flavor
1908
Monosodium glutamate
Just add boiling water to get a tasty meal
1958
Instant noodles
Small dessert item which can predict the future
≈ 1900
Fortune cookie
The Fujita scale, used to measure the strength of ...
1971
Tornadoes
Machine that helps people sing along to a music video
1981
Karaoke
Type of battery that powers phones, laptops, and electric vehicles
1985
Lithium-ion
Type of ship, later employed at the Battle of Midway
1922
Aircraft carrier
Type of train
1964
Bullet train
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53 Comments
peardestroyer
+22
Level 60
Nov 1, 2021
Nice QR code.
AntiMatter8192
+7
Level 70
Nov 2, 2021
I guessed Maglev Train before Bullet Train...
Findlay
+4
Level 82
Apr 20, 2022
The development of maglev trains can't really be attributed to any specific country, with relevant technologies and early experimental models arising in the US, UK, Germany and significant later contributions by Japan. The UK, Germany, Japan and ROK had the first commercially operating maglevs, but in terms of scale China now dominates.
Malbaby
+5
Level 70
Nov 2, 2021
During World War I the British navy developed the first true aircraft carrier with an unobstructed flight deck, the HMS Argus, which was built on a converted merchant-ship hull. A Japanese carrier, the Hosyo, which entered service in December 1922, was the first carrier designed as such from the keel up.
Berney
+4
Level 82
Apr 18, 2022
According to Wikipedia, the design of Britain's purpose designed HMS Hermes preceded and influenced that of Hōshō, and its construction actually began earlier. The Japanese ship ended up being commissioned first but it's hard to see that this type of ship was invented in Japan.
Jealous1sEnvy
+2
Level 89
Nov 2, 2021
Could you provide a source for the CRISPR? Since Jennifer Doudna is generally credited with its "invention"
overtired
+6
Level 85
Nov 2, 2021
From the Wiki page: "The first description of what would later be called CRISPR is from Osaka University researcher Yoshizumi Ishino and his colleagues in 1987."

It says that Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technique.

Mahkagh
+8
Level 80
Nov 2, 2021
I agree with this as well. Have my bachelor's in molecular bio, so will just say that CRISPR is a natural (=evolved) bacterial mechanism of defending its genetic material (DNA) from viruses. So I'd agree that the system was *discovered* in Japan, but don't think I could call it an *invention*. The exploitation of the CRISPR system to site-specifically modify DNA could be considered an invention... but that didn't happen in Japan.
Qikiq
+2
Level 87
Nov 3, 2021
Hee. Love the QR code.
Jorissie
+3
Level 90
Nov 3, 2021
Jetpunk is the best!
Henceforth516
+3
Level 85
Nov 3, 2021
Can "ramen" be accepted for instant noodles? I am no expert so feel free to shoot me down, but I thought they were the same.
Carry
+5
Level 63
Nov 9, 2021
I guessed that too but Ramen is a meal with noodles and much older than that. Instant noodles are dehydrated noodles.
Findlay
+2
Level 82
Nov 9, 2021
Conflating ramen with instant noodles does a great disservice to ramen. Ramen takes care and precision to make over a long time and is absolutely delicious. Instant noodles, not so much. Watch this if you're curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFM_rJ5MtYk
BiggieSmalls
+1
Level 74
Apr 18, 2022
Ramen was invented by the Chinese, not Japanese. and it was not in 1958
PrinceEric
+1
Level 56
Apr 18, 2022
Fun (to me) Fact! The dish we know as ramen originated in China as "la mian," which means "stretched noodles," referring to the procedure whereby the noodles are constructed. Yet another characteristic separating them from the hard cubes of noodles we see here. :-) Get to your nearest ramen restaurant today!
JoanSR
+2
Level 75
Nov 4, 2021
I don't know who created the fortune cookies but they were more popular in chinese restaurants in america from the get go, and barely seen in Japan. So probably invented by americans in the form we know and hate today.

- other suggesrions: transistor portable radio/cassete player, VCR and portable calculators (disputed).

brandybuck96
+6
Level 83
Nov 8, 2021
The person alleged to be the American inventor was a Japanese immigrant who essentially adapted an idea already used in Japan.
Findlay
+2
Level 82
Apr 20, 2022
I believe the inspiration is the o-mikuji, fortunes written on small pieces of paper chosen at random at both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples at new year in Japan.
WillemLAif
+5
Level 76
Nov 4, 2021
I cannot lie, the first thought to the first question was "love hotel". The clue pretty much matches, too.
Carry
+1
Level 63
Nov 9, 2021
Argh, I guessed Capsular Hotel...
Phosphate
+7
Level 81
Nov 12, 2021
The clue for Instant noodles could also apply to ramen - maybe a more specific clue?

Should accept "carrier" for "aircraft carrier".

BiggieSmalls
+1
Level 74
Apr 18, 2022
no...Ramen was not invented in 1958. Ramen was actually invented by the Chinese and was exported to Japan in mid 1800s
Findlay
+2
Level 82
Apr 20, 2022
While ramen definitely derives from Chinese lamian, to say ramen is a Chinese invention is not really accurate. The Japanese dish today called ramen has no precise analogue in China. The most accurate statement would probably be that ramen is a Chinese-inspired Japanese dish, although if you go back far enough that applies to just about all Japanese cuisine. Importantly, though, lamian specifically refers to the noodle-making technique, whereas ramen in Japan refers to the whole dish which includes lamian-style noodles (called chukamen in Japanese).
PrinceEric
+1
Level 56
Apr 18, 2022
I agree with the "carrier" acceptance. Like, what other kind of carrier could we be talking about? Gundam carriers?
FyreSt0rm
+4
Level 45
Dec 10, 2021
I did not guess emoji, I kept guessing sushi, lotus, fuji and combinations of the three. Can't believe that's the only one I didn't get.
Zefyrinus
+2
Level 72
Feb 21, 2022
Maybe add pottery or the novel for Japanese inventions?
elcampeador
+3
Level 79
Apr 18, 2022
Many cultures independently 'invented' pottery. And the novel has no clear definition and was not 'invented' by Japan or anyone else.
Findlay
+2
Level 82
Apr 20, 2022
The Tale of Genji is often referred to as the world's oldest novel, though this is a highly debatable claim. Some of the oldest pottery vessels are found in Japan, though some of similar or greater antiquity are found in China and far more ancient ceramic figurines have been found in Europe. In both cases, I think it would be dubious to claim Japan as the inventor country.
Jacktheguy
+4
Level 91
Apr 18, 2022
Not one video game console?
Findlay
+2
Level 82
Apr 20, 2022
An individual console isn't really an invention, anymore than the Mazda 3 is an 'invention' - the automobile being the relevant invention. And the video game console as a whole was invented in the US. Even if you try to be more precise, the US still gets the credit: the first handheld game was Mattel's Auto Race and the first supporting multiple, interchangeable games was Milton Bradley's Microvision. Arguably hybrid consoles are a Japanese invention with the Nintendo Switch. Probably the only one that might qualify for this quiz.
QuizApe
+2
Level 68
Apr 18, 2022
What about blue LEDs which were invented in Japan in 1989?

This invention allowed us to have LED RGB displays and white LEDs, which are actually high-intensity blue LEDs.

LAP3UNC
+6
Level 85
Apr 18, 2022
"Carrier" not being accepted is weak.
elcampeador
+1
Level 79
Apr 18, 2022
I carry things, did the Japanese invent me?
emoney9
+3
Level 78
Apr 18, 2022
"Bullet" is accepted for bullet train. Did the Japanese invent bullets?
Fenny17
+1
Level 18
Apr 18, 2022
CRISPR wasn't invented by the Japanese; Lithium ion batteries also weren't invented by the Japanese, Instant noodles were invented by someone of Taiwanese descent, not Japanese
Gozzagog
+2
Level 69
Apr 18, 2022
level 18....give it a rest...Lithium ion developed by Japanese based on research by a number of other scientists.
Gozzagog
+2
Level 69
Apr 18, 2022
CRISPR initially discovered/formulated by Yoshizumi Ishino at Osaka University
toowise
+1
Level 79
Apr 18, 2022
I am upset

I cannot lie

No haiku answer

AlmostAGenius
+9
Level 82
Apr 18, 2022
You are missing words

It needs seven syllables

On the second line

ctleng76
+1
Level 65
Apr 18, 2022
Why not accept just "carrier" for aircraft carrier. When talking about one, most people just say "carrier".
sumguy
+2
Level 85
Apr 18, 2022
Not me. Have you done a survey?
wkrpnyc
+1
Level 82
Apr 18, 2022
74 minutes. Missing the s.
GlassMonkeyCode
+1
Level 68
Apr 18, 2022
I have CDs that have up to 79 minutes of WAV music, they are ordinary CDs.
sumguy
+2
Level 85
Apr 18, 2022
The original size was 650 MB/74 minutes. The 700 MB/80 minute discs came later.
GlassMonkeyCode
+1
Level 68
Mar 28, 2024
Interesting, thanks.
SpartanLlama
+2
Level 70
Apr 18, 2022
Wow I got methamphetamine but didn't know that, interesting to learn
Colsey69
+3
Level 68
Apr 20, 2022
Fortune cookie was invented in San Francisco no?
blackled
+2
Level 72
Sep 30, 2022
Fortune cookie was invented in San Francisco yes....... by a Japanese immigrant.
GlobalCitizen
+2
Level 65
Apr 24, 2022
I suggest using different emojis such as smiling faces for the emoji one (or maybe something else).

Using Japanese-themed emojis made me think that I had to find a Japanese word related to sashimi, the fuji mountain and cherry blossoms.

Uzbekiman
+1
Level 41
Feb 10, 2023
accept ramen for instant please
GuerillaGorilla
+1
Level 58
Mar 12, 2024
Fortune cookies are american.
GlassMonkeyCode
+1
Level 68
Mar 28, 2024
I tried twisters, instead of tornadoes. I'm not American, it just came to mind first. I think it should be accepted.
xTigeRx
+1
Level 65
Aug 19, 2024
Could you accept Metamphetamine?
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