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..