Think You're Pretty Smart? Then Try "The Japanese IQ Test!"
I love games.
Not the ones people in relationships play with one another, but board games, brainteasers and the like. From playing Hi Ho Cherry-O with my sister, Boggle with my grandmother, and word searches on my own in my youth, to playing Life with the kids, Sequence with my wife (great game, check it out) and trying to solve any puzzle that comes my way today, playing games has always been one of my passions.
Typically, the more intense the game's challenge is to my brain, the more I enjoy it. However, for the first time in a long time, I found myself getting frustrated with the mental challenge a game posed.
That game is known as "The Japanese IQ Test."
The story circulating the Internet goes that in Japan they make applicants for certain jobs play this game to see if and how quickly they can solve it. I haven't been able to confirm if that is true, so if you are able to confirm or deny it I'd appreciate it. I DO know when you click the link at the bottom of this post to play the game you will go to a page with writing in Chinese, not Japanese, (you don't need to worry about these words) so that doesn't bode well for the veracity of the Japanese IQ Test story. Maybe they make Chinese applicants for Japanese jobs play it.
More importantly, I'd love to hear if YOU solve the Japanese IQ Test below (without getting tips via Google or other methods on how to solve it), and how long it took you. 
Because they've been a hobby of mine since youth, I usually am able to solve puzzles and brainteasers relatively quickly; maybe I was just having a rough day, or maybe I am not qualified to get a good job in Japan, but solving this one took me just over a half hour of focused effort. (I didn't even have a half hour to spare the day I did it, making it all the more frustrating.)
Of course, I briefly experienced elation in direct proportion to my frustration when I did finally solve it, followed by shock that I hadn't been able to "get it" more quickly once I knew how.
So if you enjoy brainteasers, if you pride yourself on your intelligence, or if you want to get a job in Japan, give the Japanese IQ Test below a try. It may not feel like it is so, but there IS a solution within the bounds of the rules ... just keep your mind open and keep trying and you will finally get it. (And if you get it in under a half-hour, then please protect my fragile ego and lie to me? Please??)
Here are The Japanese IQ Test rules:
The object is to get all the people to the opposite side of the river. You will know you achieved this because they'll all jump up and down with glee. But you must follow these rules:
- Only 2 people can be on the raft at a time
- The Father cannot stay with any of the Daughters without the Mother being present
- The Mother cannot stay with any of the Sons without the Father being present
- The Thief (striped shirt) cannot stay with any family member if the Policeman is not there
- Only the Father, the Mother and the Policeman are able to operate the raft, so at least one of them have to be on board to drive it across to the other side
To move the people click on them. To move the raft click on the pole on the opposite side of the river.
You can access the game via the link below. Click the big blue circle once there to begin, and have fun!
Play The Japanese IQ Test Game Now