Cranium: Japanese American Edition
Published by Paul Matsushima on September 6, 2020
Category: Cultural Projects and Published Writing | Tags: Japanese American (8)
Trivia, pictionary, origami, and charades - this game has it all! Test out your knowledge of the Japanese American community with this unique take on the beloved game Cranium.
Here’s the Game
Objective of the Game
The purpose of the game is for your team to be the first to win 20 points (points can be scaled up or down, depending on time and interest).
Materials Needed
- Stack of paper
- Origami paper (optional)
- Pens/pencils
- One 6-sided die
- Scoresheet to keep points (make your own!)
- Timer (stopwatch or hourglass timer)
- List of challenges (below)
Preparation
To begin playing, divide into two teams of two or more players. If you’re in a large group, you can divide into as many as four teams, as long as each team has at least two players. The team with the player who has the next birthday goes first.
Create a scoresheet to record team points.
Game Instructions:
On Your Turn
1) Your team begins their turn by rolling the die. Here’s what each number on the die corresponds to:
| Dice Roll | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pick a Red Card (Daruma Head) |
| 2 | Pick a Green Card (Uchiwa Performer) |
| 3 | Pick a Yellow Card (Word Wāmu) |
| 4 | Pick a Blue Card (Creative Nekko) |
| 5 | Team on your left picks which color card your team selects. |
| 6 | Your team can pick any color card. |
2) After picking your card, read the challenge instructions to your group. Do not share or show the card to other team members as it typically contains the answer to your challenge.
3) When you’re ready, set a timer for 20 seconds (hard mode) or 1 minute (easy mode). Your team must successfully complete the challenge before time runs out.
4) If you were successful, award your team 1 point plus any bonus points (only if your team successfully completed the challenge’s bonus points directions).
5) Now your turn is over. It’s the next turn’s team. Repeat the steps.
How to Win / Game Conclusion
The first team to reach 20 points is the winner. To adjust for time and interest, teams can choose before starting the game how many points are needed to win.
Game Variations
Variation 1:
To make things more challenging, if a team successfully completes a challenge, they get to have another turn. This repeats until a maximum of three turns or if the team is unsuccessful in completing a challenge.
Variation 2:
If a team is unsuccessful in completing a challenge, opposing teams may attempt to complete the challenge to gain points instead of the previous team. The fastest team to complete the challenge successfully wins the round.
Challenges
Before starting the game, read the description of each of the 4 types of challenge cards (Creative Nekko, Word Wāmu, Daruma Head, and Sumo Performer). When you select each type of card and a new type of challenge is presented, read the “Challenge Instructions”. (For instance, if selecting a “Pictionary” card from Creative Nekko, read the Pictionary’s challenge instructions.)
Creative Nekko (Blue Cards)
Creative Nekko involves three creative challenges. Pictionary cards require one player to draw on a piece of paper while the other team member(s) attempt to guess the word or phrase. Origami cards are the same as Pictionary but instead of drawing, you’re folding paper into a sculpture. Telephone Pictionary cards require team members to each caption and draw the answer and the last team player guesses the word or phrase.
Pictionary
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, choose a player from your team who can get you to guess the answer on the back of this card by drawing clues on paper with no peeking, talking, letters, or symbols. I’ll read the hint aloud, pass the card to the player, and then start the timer.
For a Bonus Point: Draw with your eyes closed.
Answers:
| Japan | Natto | Shamisen |
| Japanese American | Sushi | Totoro |
| Jigglypuff | Hapa | Wasabi |
| Kagami-mochi | Sembei | Kine |
| Japanese doll | Sushi | Dango |
| Zabuton | Bonsai tree | Bento |
| Momotaro | Takuan | Akita |
Origami
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, choose a player from your team who can get you to guess the answer on the back of this card by folding the (origami) paper with no talking or gestures. Players may cut, tape, or draw (but no letters or words) on their creations. I’ll read the hint aloud, pass the card to the player, and then start the timer.
For a Bonus Point: You can earn a bonus point by only folding your paper and forgoing the ability to cut, tape, or draw on your origami.
Answers:
| Kazari (tanabata decoration) | Inarizushi | Onigiri |
| Yagura (tower) | Shrimp tempura | Zori (slipper) |
| Usu (mochi pounding bowl) | Hashi (chopstick) | Godzilla |
| Kagami-mochi | Sembei | Kine |
| Japanese doll | Sushi | Dango |
| Zabuton | Bonsai tree | Bento |
| Momotaro | Takuan | Akita |
Telephone Pictionary
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, your team must guess correctly (or most closely) the answer on the back of this card. To play, select the order of your team. The first player must draw/illustrate the answer, then pass to the next player who captions (writes) what they believe the first person has drawn, cover the caption (by folding the paper over it), then draw/illustrate said caption. Pass and repeat until all players on each team have gone. The last player in line must guess the answer. I’ll read the hint aloud, pass the card to the player, and then start the timer.
Answers:
| Japan hosts 2020 Olympics | Eating Oshogatsu foods | George Takei on the deck of the USS Enterprise |
| Godzilla attacks a city | Senator Maize Hirono voting on a bill | Kristi Yamaguchi being awarded gold medal (slipper) |
| Shinzo Abe playing baseball | Yuri Kochiyama holding Malcom X after he gets shot | Eating lunch at Benihana’s |
| Usagi Yojimbo in a sword fight | Jake Shimabukuro playing ukulele | Mr. Miyagi doing wax-on, wax-off |
| Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) rapping in front of a crowd | Goku (from Dragon Ball) fighting an enemy | Ann Curry reporting during a storm |
| David Ono interviewing someone | Fred Korematsu arguing before a court | Making mochi |
| Dancing the tanko bushi | Gyoza eating competition | Visiting a Japantown |
Word Wāmu (Yellow Cards)
Word Wāmu is themed around words, phrases, and acronyms. Guess the Phrase cards require teams to correctly guess what the Japanese phrase means in English. Guess the Acronym cards require teams to correctly guess what the acronym stands for. Guess the Gairaigo cards require teams to correctly guess what the Japanese word means in English.
Guess the Phrase
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, teams must correctly guess what the answer on this card means in English. Teams can request the stated hint for help.
For a Bonus Point: Figure out the answer without hearing the hint.
| Phrase | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Kome no togijiru | Water used to wash rice | |
| Shigatagani | It can’t be helped | |
| Urusai | Annoying | |
| No Monku | Don’t complain | |
| Mottainai | Said when you don’t recycle. | “Don’t waste” |
| Bakatare | Standard Japanese: bakayarō | Fool/idiot |
| Chanto | Do it properly | |
| China meshi | Standard Japanese: chūka ryōri | Chinese food or Chinese restaurant |
| Benjo | Standard Japanese: toire or otearai | Restroom or toilet |
| Mikan | Standard Japanese: ponkan | Tangerine |
| Sato-shoyu | Satō is the Japanese word for sugar | Teriyaki |
| Nappa | Standard Japanese: hakusai | Chinese cabbage |
Guess the Acronym
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, teams must correctly guess what the full name of the acronym on this card is. Teams can request the stated hint for help.
For a Bonus Point: Figure out the answer without hearing the hint.
For a Bonus Point: Give a description of the purpose or mission of the acronym.
| Acronym | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| JACCC | All about arts and culture | Japanese American Cultural and Community Center |
| JANM | An organization that teaches about history | Japanese American National Museum |
| SLT | In Little Tokyo | Sustainable Little Tokyo |
| JCCCNC | In San Francisco | Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California |
| LTSC | All about serving the community | Little Tokyo Service Center |
| ESGVJCC | In east Los Angeles | East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center |
| JABA | Related to the law | Japanese American Bar Association |
| CJACLC | Statewide organization | California Japanese American Community Leadership Council |
| JACL | Organization that’s been around since WWII | Japanese American Citizens League |
| OCBC | A church | Orange County Buddhist Church |
Guess the Gairaigo
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, teams must correctly guess what the gairaigo (Japanese words originating or based on foreign-language, generally Western) on this card means in English. Teams can request the stated hint for help.
For a Bonus Point: Figure out the answer without hearing the hint.
| Gairaigo Term | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| amefuto | American football | American sport |
| aisu-kyandī | Ice + candy | popsicle |
| afutā sābisu | after service | Customer service |
| apāto | Cramped place to live | apartment |
| arukōru | Cooky beverage | alcohol |
| bāgen | bargain | a sale at a store |
| baiku | Like a bike | a motorcycle, but not a bicycle |
| batā | creamy | Butter (sometimes margarine) |
| bebī kā | Baby car | stroller |
| Bīru | Asahi | Beer |
| kyabin atendanto | cabin attendant | A flight attendant |
| konpyūta | apple | computer |
| dorama | drama TV | drama, soap opera |
| erebētā | lift | elevator |
| furonto garasu | front glass | windshield |
| guguru | search | To Google |
| hankachi | sneeze | handkerchief |
| jendā furī | gender free | gender equality |
| kamōn | come on | An invitation to join an activity or event. |
| kōhī | koffie | coffee |
| majikku tēpu | magic tape | velcro |
| nanbā disupurei | number display | caller ID |
| terebi gēmu | televi(sion) game | video game |
| toppu-pēji | top + page | home page (website) |
| tsuittā | tweet |
Daruma Head (Red Cards)
Daruma Head revolves around knowledge of data and facts. Multiple-Choice Trivia! cards ask a question and present four possible multiple choice answers. Outright Trivia! cards present a question that the player’s team must answer outright, and True/False Trivia! cards require the player’s team to evaluate a statement to determine whether it is true or false.
Multiple-Choice Trivia!
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, teams must choose the correct answer from four possible multiple-choice questions.
| Question | Answers |
|---|---|
| How many officially recognized Japantowns are there in the USA? |
|
| What does the term “Buddhahead” mean? |
|
| What is the group during WWII that is most famous for rescuing the 141st Regiment of the 36th Texas Division from German territory? |
|
| Norman Mineta is a politician most commonly associated with which California city? |
|
| What is “Pacific Citizen”? |
|
| Actor Kenneth Choi, who played Jim Morita, a war veteran and later school principal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appeared in which Marvel movie? |
|
| Which Asian group does NOT have a larger estimated population in the United States than those of Japanese descent? |
|
| The Japanese new year’s feast is called what? |
|
True/False Trivia!
Challenge Instruction: To win this challenge, teams must evaluate a statement to determine whether it is true or false and select the correct answer.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Japanese Americans were put into incarceration camps in Hawaii during World War II. | True. |
| The only officially recognized Japantowns are in Hawaii and California. | False. California only. |
| The “Loyalty Questionnaire”–asked while Japanese Americans were imprisoned during WWII–asked if individuals would serve in the US military and if they would swear allegiance to the US and denounce allegiance to Japan. | True. |
| Also known as the Johnson-Reid Act, the Immigration Act of 1894 ended further immigration from Japan into the United States. | False. It was 1924. |
| According to the US Census, Japanese first immigrated to America in 1843. | True. |
| Japanese American who were incarcerated during WWII were paid $50,000 each from the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. | False. $20,000 each. |
| According to the US Census as of 2017, Japanese Americans have an estimated population of 2.5 million people in the United States. | False. 1.5 million. |
| Wat Misaka was the first person of color to play in the NBA. | True. |
Outright Trivia!
Challenge Instruction: To win this challenge, teams are presented with a question that they must answer outright without receiving any hints or clues.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name the 4 generations (in Japanese), the first of which first immigrated to the US in the early 1900s. | Issei, Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei |
| Name the location of the four officially recognized Japantowns in the United States. | Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Sawtell |
| Name the Japanese American who lost an arm during WWII and later became a U.S. Senator | Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) |
| Name the three core food ingredients needed to make mochi. | Mochigome (rice), mochiko (flour), and water. |
| Name the three core pieces of equipment used during mochitsuki. | Kine (mallets), usu (stone bowl), and rice steamer. |
| This psychic mutant–portrayed in one of the X-Men movies–had her mind placed in the body of a Japanese female ninja named Kwannon. | Psylocke |
| Why did many issei (first generation) Japanese Americans purchase land in their children’s name? | Because the US Alien Land Law barred non-citizens from owning land. |
Sumo Performer (Green Cards)
Sumo Performer is themed around acting out clues with a vague hint such as in Charades, or acting and speaking like a famous person or fictional character but without using proper names (Celebrity Acting).
Charades
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, get your teammates to guess what’s on the card by acting without making any sound.
For a Bonus Point: Figure out the answer without hearing the hint.
Answers:
| Obake (ghost) | Ikebana | shabu shabu pot |
| Nisei Week | Oni (demon) | Giant Robot |
| Kaki (persimmon) | Oshogatsu | Mottainai |
| Koi (fish) | Tanko Bushi | Katana (sword) |
| Mochiko | Mochi gome | Pocky stick |
| Okinawa | Hello Kitty | Enryo |
| Botan Candy | Hi-Chew | The Karate Kid |
Celebrity Acting
Challenge Instructions: To win this challenge, get your teammates to guess what’s on the card by acting and speaking like a famous person or fictional character but without using proper names.
For a Bonus Point: Figure out the answer without hearing the hint.
| Celebrity | Hint |
|---|---|
| Kristi Yamaguchi | Olympic medal figure skater. Go for the gold! |
| Ryan Kurosaki | Major League Baseball’s first Japanese American. |
| Minoru Yamasaki | Architect skyscraper designer |
| Patsy Mink | First Asian American to run for president of the United States |
| PJ Hirabayashi | San Jose taiko master |
| Wataru Misaka | First non-white player in the NBA |
| Nancy Sekizawa | Owner of Atomic Café. Also known as Atomic Nancy. |
| June Kuramoto | Koto player of Hiroshima (band) |
| George Takei | Portrayed Sulu on the original Star Trek series |
| Min Yasui | Lawyer who challenged the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. |
| Maise Hirono | Current United States senator of Hawaii |
| Kenneth Choi | Played Jim Morita, a military veteran of Captain America’s Howling Commandos in Captain America: The First Avenger. |
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