Iroha Karuta
Traditional Japanese matching game played mainly by children.
A typical set of Iroha Karuta will contain 96 cards, divided into 48 yomifuda and 48 torifuda. Each yomifuda has the text of a proverb or idiom, while the torifuda has an illustration related to the writing on the torifuda, as well as a kana (circle) with the first syllable of the writing, written in hiragana. One person reads the yomifuda, while all the players compete to find the corresponding torifuda, the torifuda being laid out on the floor in the middle of the players. The object of the game is to find as many torifuda as possible.
An example of a proverb is the first one shown here, namely “A dog that walks around will find a stick”. See the box
Above: Iroha Karuta cards printed by Angel Playing Cards Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan, c1990. 2 x 48 cards + booklet in Japanese, in drop-lid box. Size: 57.5 x 84 mm.
The cards themselves are on a stiff board, with square corners and plain green backs. Iroha Karuta belongs to the same family of card games as Uta Garuta (or Hyakunin Isshu)►
Further References
• Wikipedia: Karuta►
• Tofugu: Karuta: Gotta Catch 'Em All!►
• Fuda Wiki: Iroha Karuta►
• it's japantime.com: Karuta かるた : the surprising features of Japanese card games►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Iroha Karuta
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Eki karuta
Japanese fortune-telling cards based on I Ching with bold, modern designs by Kayoko Asako.
Iroha Karuta for Hino City
Special version of Iroha Karuta, a traditional Japanese matching game, made for Hino City, Tokyo.
Playing cards with prints by Sumio Kawakami
Woodblock print designs created by Sumio Kawakami in 1938-9, each card having a different illustrati...
So-Lah – A Game of Music
An early 20th century domino-type musical card game by Goodall.
Loco Jumbo playing cards
54 different colour photographs of steam locomotives from around the world.
Maxim playing cards
Publicity pack from Nintendo for Maxim freeze dried coffee.
Ukiyo-E (Nintendo)
Classic examples of Ukiyo-E painting.
Crazyrider playing cards
Stylised portrayal of rock musicians from the 1980s.
Fan DACK Playing CARD
Unusual cards in the shape of skittles, intended for fanning.
Tokyo Disneyland Playing Cards
Disney themed playing cards featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends; available at Tokyo Disneyland in...
Nintendo deck with Medieval theme
Courts in medieval costume holding both French and Italian/Spanish suit-signs.
Unimol playing cards
Advertising pack for a pharmaceutical company, with brightly coloured courts.
Laser Clay playing cards
Pack promoting the Laser Clay Shooting System created by Nintendo in 1973.
Fujitsu playing cards
Colourful advertising pack for Fujitsu Limited, reminiscent of the flower power/psychedelic era.
Back to Country
Advertising playing cards for a Japanese fashion house, with reversed colours.
Le Golf de Mose
Humorous cartoons of golfers in action on playing cards by the artist Mose.
Alternative Happy Families
An updated, 1980s-style “Alternative Happy Families” game.
Politically Incorrect Happy Families
A Happy Families set with many differences from a conventional one.
O Baralho dos Provérbios!
Portuguese proverbs in combination with special courts and suit-signs published by Apenas Livros, Li...
Picture Proverbs
Picture Proverbs was a Victorian card game illustrating popular proverbs which were seen as words of...
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
-playing-cards-with-wüst-courts/images/rijks-1.465ba2b2.jpg "Oude Kunst (Old Art) playing cards with Wüst courts")
