*3.1. Karuta*

*Karuta* is a traditional Japanese playing card [26]. During the Heian period (794–1185), aristocrats had spent time writing elaborate poetry and playing *Kai-awase*. In *Kai-awase*, players depicted the poem or scenes related to the poem on the shells, face down, and competed to find the most pairs of shells. In the mid-1500s, Portuguese sailors introduced European playing cards that they called carta into Japan. During the ensuing Edo period (1600–1868), *Karuta* evolved from a Portuguese import into a Japanese traditional game, combining *Kai-awase* with carta.

One of the main types of *Karuta* is *Uta-Karuta*. Figure 1 shows the progression of *Uta-Karuta*. *Uta-Karuta* consists of multiple cards divided into two sets. One set is for reading and the other is for grabbing. Cards for reading are called *Yomifuda*, cards for grabbing are called *Torifuda*. *Yomifuda* and *Torifuda* exactly correspond to each other. The basic rule of *Uta-Karuta* is described below.

**Figure 1.** *Uta-Karuta* is a typical example of *Karuta*. *Uta-Karuta* consists of multiple cards divided into two sets: *Torifuda* and *Yomifuda*.*Yomifuda* and *Torifuda* exactly correspond to each other. (**1**) *Torifuda*: "grabbing cards" with pictures and/or written language, (**2**) *Yomifuda*: "reading cards" with written information, (**3**) The players position and cards placement during competition.

### **Phase 1: Recognition** *Torifuda* **layout**

Arrange the *Torifuda* face up on a flat surface in front of the players. Players memorize the contents and position of the *Torifuda* as much as possible.

### **Phase 2: Read out of** *Yomifuda*

The game master randomly draws a *Yomifuda* from the deck and starts reading it out.

### **Phase 3: Race of finding** *Torifuda*

Players race to determine which *Torifuda* corresponds to the *Yomifuda* and touch/grab/claim what they think is the correct *Torifuda*.

Players repeat Phase 2 and Phase 3 until all the *Torifuda* are gone. The winner is the player who has the most *Torifuda*.
