Card game
5 games
Japanese card games blend imported ideas with distinctly local forms. Playing cards arrived with Portuguese traders in the sixteenth century; after Edo-period bans on foreign cards, uniquely Japanese decks emerged. Hanafuda (flower cards) tied each suit to a month and a flower—and in 1889 Nintendo was founded to make t...
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Hanafuda
花札
Hanafuda (flower cards) began as Nintendo's first product in 1889—the company that would one day make Mario and Zelda started with these 48-card decks. Twelve s...
2 Medium
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Karuta
かるた
Competitive Hyakunin Isshu Karuta is one of the world's fastest memorisation-reaction games: 100 classical poems, two sets of cards, and a race to touch the rig...
2 Medium
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Daifugō
大富豪
Daifugō (Big Rich Man) is Japan's most popular casual card game. Climb by playing higher singles, pairs, or combinations; empty your hand first to become Daifug...
3–6 Medium
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Oicho-Kabu
おいちょかぶ
Oicho-Kabu is Japan's baccarat: aim for 9 with a kabufuda deck. Hand total is the last digit only (modulo 10). The worst hand—8-9-3 (ya-ku-za)—is the folk origi...
2+ Medium
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Two-Ten-Jack
ツーテンジャック
Two-Ten-Jack is a Japanese trick-taking game: hearts are permanent trump, and the scoring cards are in the name—2♥ 10♥ J♥ (+5 each), 2♣ 10♣ J♣ (-5). Ace of Spad...
2 Medium
