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
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.
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