Banjo Cards

Published April 09, 2025 Updated April 09, 2025

Images of the peg heads from 4-string banjos from Akira Tsumura’s renowned collection.

1978 Japan Nintendo Tsumura Juntendo Music

These Banjo playing cards were published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978. They feature a different image on each card of the peg head, or headstock with maker's name or badge, from 4-string banjos from Akira Tsumura's renowned collection, which was considered one of the finest and most comprehensive banjo collections in the world. The deck includes 52 suited cards, a Joker, and an extra card with a list of banjos.

Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978 Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978 Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978 Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978 Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978

Above: Banjocards published by Tsumura Juntendo Inc. in Tokyo around 1978. 52 cards, a Joker, and an extra card with a list of banjos.

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By Jon Randall

Member since May 28, 2020

From 6 or 7 years of age I enjoyed playing cards with my family, and still enjoy a variety of games today with various groups and individuals. I contribute my competitive nature to enjoying games … it’s not that I like to win, I dislike losing! I was barely 10 years old when my great Uncle left me a small collection of playing cards and that was the starting point of my collecting. The competitive streak in me helped develop me into a competitive swimmer that sent me to various places around the world, including a 6 year stint in the US, where for much of that time I was at university. I’ve always enjoyed car boots flea markets, yard sales, charity shops etc., and my eye would never miss a pack of playing cards. Even after my swimming career finished I coached at a high level for many years and continued enjoying the discovery of some great finds around the world. For decades my collection continued to grow, despite selling a portion of it via eBay over the years. It wasn’t until post 2010 that I realised, mostly due to correspondence with Australian friends, that there were so many single playing cards collectors. This intrigued me. I had so many packs of cards at home that I made the bold decision to share a good number with single collectors, and subsequently listed around 7000 for sale on eBay. That did make a dent in my collection, but there’s still around 30,000 packs taking up quite a bit of space at home. Crazy? Yes, but I’ve seen bigger hoards a few times! There’s so many I surprise myself finding packs I forgot I had when I look in a box I’d not seen in a while.

My eBay ID’s if you’d like to look are “worldwide_playing_cards” & “playing_cards_world

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