Choose the correct answer for each question.
Janken, the "paper, scissors, stone" game may be a popular way to decide who "goes first" among people in Japan, but this practice has never caught on in America. The logic of the game is confusing to Americans because a paper can wrap almost anything even a pair of scissors, and who has ever heard of wrapping stones in paper? Anyway, Americans would be likely to sharpen the scissors on the stone and then recycle the paper rather than wasting it for wrapping stones. Such is the nature of American pragmatism.
At any rate, for most Americans a much simpler toss of a coin or the show of fingers may settle a dispute or decide an issue.
To appreciate the coin toss a word must be said about American currency. All American coins have a face imprinted on one side of them; the penny which is a one-cent coin, has the face of Lincoln on it. The dime which has the value of ten cents, has Roosevelt's imprint. The nickel, which is worth five cents, has Jefferson's image and the quarter, worth twenty-five cents, shows the face of Washington. On the opposite side of the coin the imprints may vary but it is not the imprint of a presidents' profile. The penny features the Lincoln memorial, the nickel has the imprint of Monticello, the dime shows the Roman staff of power and the quarter depicts an eagle perched on a branch with wings extended.
The side of the coin with the face is called heads. The opposite side of the coin which does not show a face is called tails. Before tossing a coin, the two members of the choosing sides call out which they prefer, "heads" or "tails." The coin, usually a nickel or a quarter, is then flipped into the air. This is done by placing the coin between the tip of the index finger and the moon of the thumb. The coin is flipped about a foot into the air and it is caught with the right hand and placed on the back of the palm of the left hand. When the coin is uncovered the person who chose the side facing up is the winner. It is a quick resolution to a dispute and the results cannot be argued. Unfortunately, this tossing of a coin cannot be played with Japanese currency because there is no face imprinted on any of the coins and there is little to distinguish one side of the coin from another.
The second way to settle a dispute in America is by a simple finger toss which involves the show of "one" or "two" fingers. Each person chooses either odds or evens. Showing fingers is rather simpler because it does not involve the use of a coin. It is merely accomplished by extending one or two fingers of the right hand outward full-length and then counting them. The odd numbers are either one or three. The even numbers are two or four. Fingers are then tossed out by both members and then added up. Each player can toss out either one or two fingers but there is no need to toss out more. If the total number of fingers exposed is one or three the person who claimed odds is the victor. If the total number of exposed fingers is two or four, then the person who claimed evens gets the first choice. To the Westerner
flipping a coin and tossing out fingers are far more easier than "paper, scissors, stone."