Book Review

I found this book , Hanafuda the flower card game by japan publications, in a Japanese supermarket called Marukai’s. This book briefly explains the history of Hanfuda cards and then gets straight into explaining the basic fundementals and many game variations. The games versions that are mentioned in the book are eighty-eight, Honeymoon Hanfuda(Mushi), Come On(Koi-Koi), and Nine(Kabu). This isn’t all the versions but it covers the most popular ones that most people know how to play. What would have been nice to add to this book was the sub versions of the games. For example, in korea they have a version of koi koi hanafuda called Go-stop. Its basically the same with some minor changes to it. This had more information on the game eighty-eight because the writers thought that this game is the most commonThis book has many step by step pictures so it makes it a lot easier to follow. Not only does this book give the basic rules of the game it also gives tips about the different versions that are mentioned in the book. I liked how the book had colored pictures of the cards and an easy to read chart for how many points are each card. One of the fold in covers have all the cards respective to their months so all you have to do is take a quick look at that if you forgot what months each card is. It’s a nice little cheat sheet for beginners.

                I wanted to learn more about hanfuda because I love learning more about the culture. They writers stated that by “ avoiding the mathematical, rational approach of cards, the japanese have preferred to turn to nature for the inspiration for their game” which is a big influence in japanese culture that should impact us more over here in the west.the When I read the history of it I found that these cards have their own meanings with each card based off of each month of the year. With each month there is a flower based off of the season each month is in. with the cards being totally different than regular western playing cards I could see that these cards have their own native personality with them. I felt like I learned more about hanfuda in this book than anything I found on the internet. I think what helped was that it was compiled by a major japanese company rather than an individual person with a single view on hanafuda. This book has connected me with the japanese culture a little more than before. The people of this gave me a sense that japan wants to make more connections to the west by saying “people, everywhere enjoy games, and it may be that Hanafuda can become one more link between the East and the West”. I feel the connection with that culture and I hope to pass down this game to my kids if I have any. I am always eager to teach people this game because it’s a fun japanese card game that will be fun for all ages to play.