Hanafuda

Posted on 3 Aug, 2008 5 comments

My interest in flowers and growing things started very early and when I was young my father traveled a lot. Once on a trip to Japan he purchased some flower cards for me and a book on how to play the games. The cards are called Hanafuda and many different games can be played with them

This is the book of instructions for the games to play with these cards.

This is a picture of the entire deck of card.
The cards are quite small about 1 1/2 by 3 inches and are stiff. They are made up of 12 suits of flowers corresponding to the months of the year. There is 4 cards in each suit with some cards having special items depicted and having more value. Others have ribbons, some of which have poetry on them.

This is some of the special item cards like the Cherry blossom curtain

and this is the poetry ribbon card for January the pine
Nintendo made the cards before they made electronic games and I have learned to play a couple of the simpler games.
I have always found these little cards beautiful and fascinating and I thought you all would enjoy a look at them.
The games can get quite complicated with many special grouping of cards.
Nintendo now has a electronic version and It is fun to play, when I can’t get anyone else interested.

Comments

Blodyn

3 Aug, 2008

They're delightful to see, and colourful aswell. I bet you loved them as a child and treasure them now. Thanks for showing them.

Marguerite

3 Aug, 2008

That souds really nice. Loved reading this blog Wohlibuli. What a nice idea of your dad to bring you this game. Now, I am not sure where Mah-jong comes from, but my grandfather brought back from Japan ( before the war ) a genuine Mah-jong game, in those lovely cherry wood boxes, all engraved with little drawers in which the bamboo and ivory stones were. He tought me to play this game as a child and then I forgot about it. Several years ago I went to stay with my aunt and she had inherited this game from her father. She was my game playing aunty and we had to play Mah-jong. This game also has flowers, bamboo, dragons, balls, wind directions etc. and you have to collect a set with them. All stones are beautiful and placed on wooden racks. I was just thinking of this game when I saw your cards. Thanks for happy memories.

Irish

3 Aug, 2008

beautiful cards Wohlibuli, and a lovely blog.
it reminded me of a set of cards i have here, bought them a while back on e.bay for practically nothing. they are old cards from cigarettes pks yrs ago, pictures of flowers. i intend to put them onto card and frame it , i must take a pic of them and post it to show you.