Hanafuda

Wooden print

The origin of Hanafuda started from “Hana-awase Karuta” that has be established from the early edo era to ganroku era (1688-1704). 

Hana-awase karuta were made with images of beauties of nature, which looked like botanical visual dictionary. The card game was popular among the upper class women. 

These cards were originally composed of 100 to 400 cards. 

The card game has become more available to common people (mostly women) after it has been reduced to 48 cards and were wooden printed.