"The Amazing Race 26" [1] Trivia Quiz

Answer: California

To commence this special race around the world, six teams and five single men reached the starting line on the edge of Castaic Lake, California. There, while the six dating teams watched, the five singles met their race partners for the very first time to embark on a blind date around the world for one million dollars.

When Phil gave the go-ahead to collect tickets to their first destination, all eleven duos, dating new and old, were able to complete a lengthy obstacle course (including mud run and pit of ice water).

The first eight tickets were for the first flight; the last three were for a second. Hopping into their Ford Fusion Hybrids, they were off!

Answer: Tokyo

Making their way to LAX, teams boarded one of two flights heading to Tokyo via Taipei, Taiwan, arriving the next afternoon. They were also informed that this leg would result in an Express Pass for the first place team and that a Double Blind U-Turn would be available for use.

When they landed, teams needed to take any form of transportation at their disposal to find a clue box at the Shintoist Kanda Shrine in Chiyoda. That's where teams found their first Detour option.

Answer: 'Samurai Saki'

Teams entering the first Detour of the race had to choose one of two tasks involving discipline. In 'Syncing Steps', teams needed to go to Shinjuku Central Park to meet up with J-pop dancers World Order to learn and perform a synchronized slow-motion-themed, choreographed routine. Jelani and Jenny, Matt and Ashley, Matt and Ashley, Aly and Steve, Laura and Tyler, Jeff and Lyda, Bergen and Kurt, Mike and Rochelle, Libby and CJ, and Hayley and Blair completed this task, some of whom took more than two dozen attempts.

Instead, Jeff and Jackie and Harley and Jonathan completed 'Samurai Saki' much quicker; they had to go to the Nakano Sakaue Station Tavern and memorize ten names of sake. Then, they had to relay an order and find the correct bottle amongst hundreds of others behind the bar to get their clue.

It proved significantly quicker.

Answer: Two

After the Detour, teams were told to head to the Double U-Turn at Wakaba Higashi Park in Shinjuku. Upon arriving, most teams opted not to use the race mechanic, feeling that they didn't know the other teams well enough to use the valuable tool so early on. Mike and Rochelle, however, fearing that they were the penultimate team to arrive, used the U-Turn (blindly) to force Jeff and Lyda to complete 'Samurai Sake'. Jeff and Lyda subsequently used the same on Jeff and Jackie to attempt to protect themselves, but said team had already passed by much earlier on.

Answer: Jeff and Lyda

After reaching the Double Blind U-Turn, teams were instructed to make their way to the race's first Pit Stop in an obscure place, a parking spot in the vicinity of the UDX Building in Akihabara, Tokyo. While some other teams had problems breaking down the meaning of 'in the vicinity', it was Jelani and Jenny who arrived in first, after only knowing each other for about twenty-four hours.

They won themselves the Express Pass to boot. While the first three teams to arrive were all blind dating teams, it was Jeff and Lyda, dating for four years, who ended up arriving in last place, partly due to the Double U-Turn.

They were eliminated as a result.

Answer: Nagano

After spending their night at the Pit Stop in a hotel structured around office cubicles, teams started Leg 2 in the early morning by being told to take the bullet train to the city of Nagano, Japan; each train left about an hour apart. This proved to be an issue for one team who missed a train in the station by taking a selfie on the platform moments before its on-time departure. Reaching Nagano, teams needed to take a taxi to their next clue box at Matsushiro Castle.

Answer: Blair

Reaching their first clue in Nagano, teams were told to make their way to a nearby castle to complete their first Road Block task of the race. Here, one member of each team needed to 'think outside the box' to solve a traditional Japanese puzzle box to receive a note inside.

When they revealed the note they could stop and visit the guards, say the phrase on their note (nakani irete kudasai, translating to 'please let me in'), and get their next clue, one of which would reward one team with a 'Date Night' at the end of the leg. Jeff, Tyler, Jelani, Aly, Mike, Harley, Bergen, Ashley, Hayley, and Libby completed this task.

Answer: Noodles

After the Road Block was completed, teams needed to head onward to the Buddhist temple of Nishi-Guchi Zenko-Ji. Here, teams were given a Detour task, but the requirements were quite vague (though not completely blind). The first Detour option, 'Share', suggested that the team members 'nourish each other in the face of adversity' to receive their next clue. Once at the Takesan Donabe Restaurant, team members were required to feed each other noodles with only chopsticks. Once they cleared their bowls...all while battling with a powerful fan, they could continue on. Laura and Tyler, Jelani and Jenny, Harley and Jonathan, Bergen and Kurt, Mike and Rochelle, and Libby and CJ completed this task.

Answer: 'Chair'

Instead of opting to complete 'Share', teams could take their chance to complete an 'ancient training technique' at the Nagano M-Wave, the former home of the Olympic speed skating events. Here, team members needed to take turns pushing each other on chairs around the rink. Both members needed to perform a lap pushing their partner, and both laps needed to have a combined time of three minutes and fifty-five seconds for teams to get their next clue. Aly and Steve, Jeff and Jackie, Matt and Ashley, and Hayley and Blair finished this task.

Answer: Libby and CJ

After the Detour, teams were told to proceed to their second Pit Stop, Patio Daimon in Nagano. Once there, Jelani and Jenny once again placed first, mainly due to Laura and Tyler losing their cab after the previous task. This time, they won FitBit wellness kits in additional to a personal chef and cooking classes for one year and either a year-long gym membership or a year of fresh groceries. Harley and Jonathan ended up receiving the random date night, spending their time at the Pit Stop at a Japanese hot spring.

In the end, Libby and CJ were eliminated because, too far behind, they were unable to catch up during their time in Nagano.