

Komaru 小丸
Kabu decks are single suited decks, generally using the suit of coins or batons. The usual composition appears to be a series of pips from 1-9, and a court card repeated 4 times. Some of the pips are decorated with silver overprints.
The decorated cards (right) are: 4, Ace, and 3. Rather inexplicably, this 4 is replaced by a 4 of batons!
Note the elaborately framed 2, and the court card, which bears a stylized soldier... complete with hat and scowling face (middle row).

Above: Japanese 'Komaru' cards. The bottom row shows: Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. The middle row shows: 6, 7, 8, 9, Court. Images courtesy Anthony Lee (anthonylesq.blogspot.com).
See also: Mekuri or Tensho cards, Unsun karuta, Akahachi, Mefuda, Kabufuda and Hana Fuda cards..

By Simon Wintle
Member since February 01, 1996
View ArticlesCurator and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996.