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Karuta: Let's play with Hiragana

Karuta is a card game that consists of two types of cards: reading cards and picture cards.


This is a traditional Japanese game that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.　It helps children learn to read. It is also a great way for adults to get a little training as it uses their reflexes.

If you are tired of practicing hiragana, why not try playing karuta for a change?

Rule
Arrange the cards so that they do not overlap, and sit around the cards.

One person reads the cards. The person who touches the picture card that matches the reading card gets the picture card. The person who touches the wrong picture card gets a break.
The person who gets the most picture cards wins.🥳



Free download of Karuta
A kind person made a site to download karuta, so I'd like to introduce it to you.
The terms of use state that it is for personal use only. Please do not distribute it for a fee.

Reference：
あいうえおかるた
https://print-kids.net/print/kokugo/aiueo-karuta/

Click on the word ダウンロードdownload in yellow-green, and on the next screen, click on the word ダウンロードdownload in blue to download the PDF.

After print it out, please cut it with scissors.

There is also a plain karuta available.
I think it is fun to make up words and draw pictures while thinking of your own words.

In Japan, many kinds of karuta are sold, such as karuta of opposite words, karuta of proverbs, and so on. When you travel to Japan, please look for them in toy stores.

Hyakunin Isshu
There is also a competitive karuta game called Hyakunin Isshu, although the rules are different from these. Have you ever seen a manga or anime called "Chihayafuru"? 
This is a story about a girl who immerses herself in the world of Hyakunin Isshu.

It looks like a manga for girls, but it also has elements of a sports manga, so I think men can enjoy it as well. There seems to be a bilingual version of the manga with only the dialogues in English, but I couldn't find it on amazon.



There's also a live-action movie.
Click here for the official website.


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