
Can you bend your brain to turn “three” into a “ball?”
What is it that’s so enticing about internet quizzes? Is it our burning inner desire to finally prove we’re smarter than six-year-olds? Or do we just really want to show off our moon/ham differentiation skills?
No matter the reason, we’re here today with another brain quiz, courtesy of the certified Japanese genius and question-maker Shinpei Takahashi. Ready to be puzzled? Here we go:
▼ “What English word goes into the ? spaces?”
We’ll give you a hint right off the bat and say that if you don’t know any Japanese, chances are you’re not going to be able to solve this one. But if you have studied some Japanese, then give it another look. If you want a hint, scroll down.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hint #1: Think about the kanji of the English words. (Scroll down for another hint)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hint #2: Think about the strokes for the kanji. (Scroll down for a BIG hint)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
▼ How about this version of the puzzle, with the words replaced by kanji?
Can you solve it now? (Scroll down for answer)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
▼ The correct answer is: king! The kanji for each English word has
one stroke added to it each time. How could we have been so blind?!
Did you get it right? If so, congratulations, you are an official RocketNews24 Puzzler Extraordinaire! You may claim your prize of one gold star below:
▼ Show it off to your friends! Family! That person you have a crush on
so they’ll finally be impressed enough to ask you out!
And if you didn’t get it right, try your luck on some other Japanese quizzes. There’s always the Japanese municipality flag kanji quiz and the math question that supposedly takes an IQ of 150 to solve. Considering even we were able to solve that one, we think its claim is a bit dubious, but hey – whatever it takes to get that gold star!
Source: Shinpei Takahashi
Images: ©RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]





Brain Gymnastics Quiz: Move one matchstick to create the name of a Japanese Prefecture
Can you answer this question for 14-year-olds from the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad?
Can you solve the maze that has Japanese net users stumped?
Can you figure out this Japanese puzzle that’s “harder to solve the smarter you are?”
Meaning of life discovered using Japanese calligraphy, math, and puns
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Merry Christmas from SoraNews24!
Shinjuku izakaya’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan is one of Tokyo’s best secret cheap eats
Start saving room now – Japanese grocery store’s biggest sushi roll yet is coming for Setsubun
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Japan’s first hotel with a human washing machine is now ready for you to come and bathe in it
How to get your money’s worth at an all-you-can-eat crepe challenge in Japan
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Street Fighter Hadouken Churros to be launched and eaten in Tokyo, Okami pudding on offer too
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Students of Japanese despair – you’ve probably been writing some of the simplest kanji wrong
Duolingo free language learning app released their first Japanese lessons, so we tested them out!
Japanese government tells teachers not to be so strict, at least about some kanji radicals
Test your boy’s love knowledge! Can you pick the “uke” and “seme” in each relationship?
Test your knowledge of Japanese convenience stores with this katakana puzzle
Japanese first grader wins math contest by quantifying “which hiragana are the hardest to write”
How to write “sakura” in Japanese (and why it’s written that way)
Kanji quiz time! Can you identify the characters behind Japan’s creative municipal flags?
Renowned Japanese calligraphy teacher ranks the top 10 kanji that foreigners like
Japanese study tip: Imagine kanji characters as fighting game characters, like in this cool video
How well do you know your Japanese vending machines?【Quiz】
Are you smarter than a (Japanese) 5th grader? Take this mind-bending test and find out!
Why does Japanese writing need three different sets of characters? (Part 1)
Kanji T-shirt seen on U.S. TV show makes Japanese viewers giggle
Think you know your weird news from Japan and Asia? Take our weekly quiz and find out!
Leave a Reply