Bunkagame — October 19, 2026

Question 1

This 1963 Italian gothic horror film was released in Italy on 15 August 1963 and is discussed in Danny Shipka's book 'Perverse Titillation', which covers the exploitation cinema of Italy, Spain and France from 1960 to 1980. The story centers on a mystery red-hooded figure in a torture chamber. Which film is this?

Accepted Answer

The Virgin of Nuremberg, a 1963 Italian gothic horror film, was released in Italy on 15 August 1963 and features in Danny Shipka's study of the exploitation cinema of Italy, Spain and France between 1960 and 1980.

Question 2

This Japanese pickled fruit, extremely sour from its high citric acid content, is a staple preserve in Japan, and in Vietnam a very similar pickled version is called 'xí muội'. Related pickled fruits also exist in China and Korea. Which pickle is this?

Accepted Answer

Umeboshi are pickled ume fruits, extremely sour and salty, with a long tradition in Japan. In Vietnam, a very similar preserve is called xí muội, and related pickled fruits appear in China and Korea.

Question 3

This mid-1980s rock album by Bruce Springsteen topped the charts in New Zealand and Ireland, and reached number two in France, Italy, Spain, and on the European Top 100 chart. In Australia it peaked at number two, and in the UK at number five. Which album is this that had a music video featuring a future Friend?

Accepted Answer

Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen's 1984 album, topped the charts in New Zealand and Ireland, hit number two in France, Italy, Spain and on the European Top 100, and peaked at number five in the United Kingdom. The music video for the song Dancing in the Dark from the album famously showed future Friends' star Courteney Cox dancing on stage.

Question 4

This American humorist and radio storyteller began his broadcast career on WJOB in Hammond, Indiana in 1945, and from 1951 to 1953 had a late-night show on KYW in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also sporadically attended Indiana University Bloomington without ever graduating. Which broadcaster is he?

Accepted Answer

Jean Shepherd, the American humorist and radio storyteller best known for the film 'A Christmas Story', started on WJOB in Hammond, Indiana in 1945 and later had a late-night show on KYW in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1951 to 1953.

Question 5

This major Scottish rock music festival ran from 1994 to 2016 and originally took place at Strathclyde Park in Lanarkshire, before moving to other sites in North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross. Which Scottish festival is this?

Accepted Answer

T in the Park, Scotland's biggest annual rock festival, ran from 1994 to 2016. It was held at Strathclyde Park in Lanarkshire until 1996 before moving on, with later sites in North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross.

Question 6

This global football governing body awarded Russia hosting rights for the 2018 World Cup and Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup, both decisions widely surrounded by controversy. On 28 February 2022, it suspended Russia from all its competitions in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Which organization is this?

Accepted Answer

FIFA, football's global governing body, awarded Russia the 2018 World Cup and Qatar the 2022 World Cup in a joint 2010 vote dogged by controversy. FIFA suspended Russia from its competitions on 28 February 2022 over the invasion of Ukraine.

Question 7

This Russian rhythmic gymnast won her three all-around world titles after the London Olympics, and her father won Olympic swimming gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games. She arrived at the Rio Olympics as the reigning World All-Around champion. Which athlete is she?

Accepted Answer

Yana Kudryavtseva is a Russian rhythmic gymnast, three-time world all-around champion after the London Olympics, and daughter of Aleksey Kudryavtsev, who won a swimming gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Question 8

In Russia, this traditional grappling sport was a staple of Soviet-era circuses, often marketed as 'French', and Ethiopia has its own folk form of this sport. Related styles include kurash from Uzbekistan and gushteengiri from Tajikistan. Which sport is this?

Accepted Answer

Wrestling, in its many folk forms, links Russia (where 'French wrestling' was a Soviet-era circus staple) with Ethiopia (which has its own traditional folk style) and other traditions like Uzbek kurash and Tajik gushteengiri.

Question 9

This stage musical, based on an Alice Walker novel, opened its Brazilian production in Rio de Janeiro in September 2019. On February 4, 2018 it opened its first major international production in Johannesburg, South Africa after the Broadway revival. Which musical is this?

Accepted Answer

The Color Purple musical, based on Alice Walker's novel, had its first major international post-revival production open in Johannesburg on 4 February 2018. The Brazilian production ran in Rio de Janeiro from September to November 2019 before transferring to São Paulo.

Question 10

This Sephardic Jewish financier, born in 1740 in Leszno in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, emigrated to New York City in 1775 after studying finance in Western Europe. He became a major financial backer of the American Revolutionary War. Which figure is he?

Accepted Answer

Haym Salomon, born in 1740 in Leszno in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, emigrated to New York City in 1775 and became a key financial backer of the American Revolutionary War. His Sephardic family had migrated from Spain and Portugal to Poland after 1492.