Hanafuda
Officially Hanafuda (花札)
Traditional Japanese playing cards. 48 cards divided into 12 SUITS = 12 MONTHS, each with 4 cards depicting flowers/plants for that month. Origin 1600s Japan (during Tokugawa shogunate). MANY GAMES: Koi-Koi (2 players), Hachi-Hachi (3 players), Go-Stop (Korean Hwatu). NINTENDO founded 1889 as hanafuda card maker.
What is Hanafuda?
Hanafuda (花札, 'FLOWER CARDS') is TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PLAYING CARD DECK — 48 CARDS divided into 12 SUITS = 12 MONTHS, each with 4 cards depicting FLOWERS/PLANTS for that month (JANUARY=PINE, FEBRUARY=PLUM BLOSSOM, MARCH=CHERRY BLOSSOM, APRIL=WISTERIA, MAY=IRIS, JUNE=PEONY, JULY=BUSH CLOVER, AUGUST=SUSUKI GRASS, SEPTEMBER=CHRYSANTHEMUM, OCTOBER=MAPLE, NOVEMBER=WILLOW, DECEMBER=PAULOWNIA). ORIGINS: Adapted from PORTUGUESE 'HOMBRE' cards imported 1543 by Portuguese traders → banned by Tokugawa shogunate → Japanese redesigned as flowers/plants to circumvent ban → various regional decks until Meiji era standardization. NINTENDO FOUNDED 1889 in KYOTO by FUSAJIRO YAMAUCHI as HANAFUDA CARD MANUFACTURER — became video game empire only later (starting Family Computer 1983). MANY GAMES played with hanafuda: (1) KOI-KOI (2 players, most popular internationally — featured in prominent Nintendo games). (2) HACHI-HACHI (3 players). (3) GO-STOP (KOREAN HWATU variant — very popular Korea). (4) ROKUHYAKUKEN (Roppyaku). Cards visually STUNNING — traditional woodblock aesthetic. HWATU (KOREAN HANAFUDA) played gambling in Korea. Hanafuda decks widely available Japan (cheap 500-2000¥); Nintendo brand premium collectible.
Quick facts
Category
Card Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–4
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
table + card layout
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
Adapted from Portuguese cards imported 1543; banned + redesigned late 1500s-1700s; standardized Meiji era 1868+; Nintendo founded 1889
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Vary by specific game (Koi-Koi most common): capture cards to form YAKU (scoring combinations) then declare KOI-KOI to continue or STOP to score.
Rules
Basic rules
Koi-Koi rules (2 players)
8 cards each + 8 cards face-up on table; capture by matching month (suit).
Turn: Play hand card matching field card = capture both
Then draw from deck; if matches field card, capture both.
Captured cards score into categories
Bright (光), Animal (種), Ribbon (短冊), Plain (カス) categories.
Complete YAKU (combinations) allow declare KOI-KOI (continue) or STOP
Koi-koi = potentially higher score but risk opponent scoring first.
Round ends when someone stops OR hand exhausted
Winner scores yaku points.
Play 12 rounds (one per month) for full game
Cumulative points determine winner.
Scoring
Yaku (combinations) score points; Koi-Koi doubles/multiplies score if second yaku achieved.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Three Brights | 5 pts (bright without Rain-Man) |
| Four Brights | 8 pts |
| Five Brights | 10 pts |
| Boar-Deer-Butterfly (animals) | 5 pts |
| Poetry ribbons (3 red) | 5 pts |
| Sake Cup + Moon (Tsuki-mi Zake) | 5 pts |
| Sake Cup + Cherry (Hanami-zake) | 5 pts |
| 10 plain (kasu) | 1 pt + 1 per additional |
Win condition · Highest cumulative score after 12 rounds (or agreed rounds).
Playing area
Called
table + card layout
Dimensions
small table for 2-4 players
Table with hand cards + field (community pool) + captured cards for each player.
Equipment
Hanafuda deck (48 cards)
€10-30 traditional; Nintendo premium €30-80
Score sheet or chips
Track cumulative points
Strategies
Learn all 12 yaku combinations
Cannot score without knowing scoring patterns.
Koi-Koi vs Stop decision critical
Koi-Koi = potential higher score but risk opponent scoring; STOP guarantees but limits max.
Track opponent's captured cards
Knowing what opponent needs shapes play.
Terminology
- Hanafuda (花札)
- Flower cards (name of deck + card family).
- Yaku
- Scoring combination (specific set of captured cards).
- Koi-Koi
- 'Come come' — declare to continue playing after yaku for potentially higher score.
- Field
- 8 cards face-up between players (community pool).
- Bright / Hikari
- 5 special cards worth extra points (crane, curtain, moon, rain-man, phoenix).
- Animal / Tane
- 10 cards with animals or figures.
- Ribbon / Tanzaku
- 10 cards with poetry ribbons.
- Plain / Kasu
- 24 basic cards worth 1 pt each.
Major competitions
Koi-Koi tournaments (Japan + online)
ongoing · Japan + worldwide · since 2000
Hwatu tournaments (Korea)
ongoing · Korea · since 1980
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Nintendo Co. Ltd. (primary manufacturer)
Founded 1889 · Kyoto, Japan
Official site ↗Japanese Playing Card Museum (Kyoto)
Founded 1973 · Kyoto, Japan
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Fusajiro Yamauchi (Japan, 1859-1940) — Nintendo founder + hanafuda pioneer
- Various regional Koi-Koi + Hwatu champions
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play KOI-KOI online (Hanafuda apps, Board Game Arena) or NINTENDO 'CLUBHOUSE 51 GAMES' (Switch)
51 Worldwide Games includes tutorial + AI Koi-Koi.
- 2
Buy Nintendo hanafuda deck ($30) — visually stunning + iconic
Traditional aesthetic.
- 3
Learn 12 months + 4 categories (bright/animal/ribbon/plain)
Foundation for all games.
intermediate
- 1
Master 10+ yaku combinations
Scoring depth.
- 2
Learn Koi-Koi vs Stop timing
Key strategic decision.
advanced
- 1
Try Hwatu (Korean variant) or Hachi-Hachi (3-player)
Related games with hanafuda cards.
- 2
Compete online at Nintendo Switch Online or Japanese apps
Global community small but active.
Frequently asked
What is hanafuda?+
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE PLAYING CARD DECK — 48 CARDS divided into 12 SUITS = 12 MONTHS, each with 4 cards depicting FLOWERS/PLANTS. Origin 1600s Japan (adapted from banned Portuguese cards). Many games played: KOI-KOI (2 players, popular), HACHI-HACHI (3 players), HWATU/GO-STOP (Korean variant). NINTENDO FOUNDED 1889 as hanafuda manufacturer — became video game empire later. Cards visually stunning traditional woodblock aesthetic.
How is hanafuda connected to Nintendo?+
NINTENDO WAS FOUNDED 1889 in KYOTO by FUSAJIRO YAMAUCHI as HANAFUDA CARD MANUFACTURER. Named 'Nintendo Playing Card Co.' Made hand-painted hanafuda decks for Yakuza + high-end collectors. Company diversified 1960s-70s (toy taxi, love hotels, instant rice) before Donkey Kong (1981) + Famicom (1983) revolutionized entertainment. Nintendo STILL MAKES hanafuda decks today ($30-80 premium). Full-circle: NINTENDO SWITCH game '51 Worldwide Games' (2020) includes hanafuda (Koi-Koi) — Nintendo's origins come home.
What is Koi-Koi?+
MOST POPULAR HANAFUDA GAME internationally. 2 PLAYERS. Each dealt 8 cards; 8 face-up on field; capture cards by matching month (suit). Play cards + draw cards; captured cards score into 4 categories (Bright, Animal, Ribbon, Plain). Complete YAKU (combination) = choose 'STOP' (score + end round) or 'KOI-KOI' (continue for potentially higher score, but opponent may score first). 12 rounds = full game (one per month). Featured in prominent Nintendo Switch '51 Worldwide Games' + numerous mobile apps.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Hanafuda— Wikipedia
- Nintendo playing cards— Nintendo