So, What Exactly is Hanafuda?
Hanafuda literally means “flower cards.” It’s a set of 48 cards, divided into 12 suits, each representing a month of the year, with 4 cards per month. These cards are decorated with seasonal motifs like flowers, birds, animals, and poetic imagery.
For example:
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January: Pine and crane
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March: Cherry blossoms and curtains
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August: Pampas grass and full moon
If that structure feels vaguely familiar, there’s a reason. Western playing cards (poker cards) are made of 13 cards × 4 suits = 52 cards. In comparison, hanafuda has 12 months × 4 cards = 48 cards. While hanafuda doesn't have suits like hearts or spades, each month acts like its own "suit." The overall structure is surprisingly close, which makes the concept easier to grasp for card game lovers.
nterestingly, even many Japanese people today can’t recall all twelve monthly themes or associate them with the right cards. The system is elegant and meaningful—but not always obvious unless you’ve played the game or studied the imagery closely.
Cards Without Numbers — Yet Full of Meaning
Unlike Western cards, hanafuda cards don’t have numbers printed on them. Instead, the month or group each card belongs to is identified entirely through artwork. This subtlety adds a touch of mystery and elegance—like a secret code woven into beautiful illustrations.
There’s even a traditional gambling game called Oicho-Kabu, similar to blackjack, where you try to reach totals like 9 or 19 using three cards—without any numbers written on them. Pulling this off with nothing but visuals? That’s a different level of cool.
Card Types and Point Values
Each of the 12 months includes a mix of cards with different values. Here’s a general breakdown:
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20-point cards (bright cards ): Rare and valuable cards, often featuring animals or special symbols such as a crane, the moon, or the rain man. There are only five of these bright cards in total—one each from the months of January, March, August, November, and December.
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10-point cards (animal cards ): Feature animals or prominent elements like deer, butterflies, or frogs.
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5-point cards (ribbon cards ): Cards with colored poetry ribbons, known as “red ribbon” or “blue ribbon.”
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1-point cards (plain cards ): Basic cards showing seasonal flowers only.
Different hanafuda games use different rules, but most involve combining certain cards into sets (called yaku) to score points—similar in spirit to poker hands. Popular games include Koi-Koi and Hana-Awase.
Nintendo’s Surprising Origin
One of the most surprising facts? Nintendo began as a hanafuda card company in 1889, founded in Kyoto. For decades, before it became a gaming powerhouse, Nintendo was known for producing high-quality hand-painted hanafuda decks.
Even today, Nintendo still makes hanafuda, and some special editions feature their famous characters—like Mario-themed hanafuda. It’s the perfect blend of old and new: Japan’s gaming roots in card form.
A Beautiful and Authentic Japanese Souvenir
Even if you don’t know how to play, hanafuda cards are worth owning for their art alone. They’re compact, durable, and visually stunning—making them a perfect Japanese souvenir.The cards themselves are smaller than Western playing cards—palm-sized, thick, and durable, with a satisfying texture that adds to their charm.
Where to buy them? You can find hanafuda decks at:
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Large supermarkets (including Don Quijote, of course)
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Department store toy sections
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Souvenir shops
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Some bookstores and game stores
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Online (for specialty or Nintendo versions)
Whether you’re a collector, a gamer, or just looking for something uniquely Japanese, hanafuda offers a meaningful connection to both traditional culture and modern gaming history.
Final Tip
Surprisingly, even many Japanese people aren’t very familiar with the rules. But owning a deck instantly gives you cultural street cred—and maybe a great conversation starter, too.
So next time you visit Japan, pick up a hanafuda deck. It might just become your new favorite pack of cards—no electricity required.
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