For the list of video games of or containing hanafuda games, see List of Hanafuda Video Games.
For the list of Korean Hwatu games in particular, see List of Korean Hwatu Games.
For the act of fortune-telling using hanafuda cards, see Hanafuda Divination.
There are many games that can be played with hanafuda, both traditional and recently invented.
There are 3 major families to which hanafuda games tend to belong:
- Fishing (or “Capture”) games are those such as Koi-Koi and Hachi-Hachi whose main gameplay mechanism revolves around playing cards from one’s hand to capture cards of the same suit on the field.
- Showdown games involve players comparing their hands to determine the winner, and include as a subcategory Banking games such as Oicho-Kabu in which each player competes against the bank rather than one another, usually with gambling intent.
- Sequence games are those which depend upon players playing their cards to the field in a particular order, generally based upon one of the traditional suit arrangements, often with a goal of emptying one’s hand before one’s opponents.
Other families of card games are described here.
Similarly, in Japan, there are 5 major styles to which hanafuda games are classified, based on their gameplay elements:
- Hana-Awase games are fishing games that have the gameplay element of having to draw a card from the draw pile and playing it to capture a card of the same suit (flower) on the field, hence the name. This includes three subcategories: Hana-Awase which are games that have elements specifically designed for playing with Hanafuda, Mekuri-kei which are games that have elements that only make sense when played using Mekurifuda, and Tensho-kei which are games derived from Tensho, a predecessor to Mekuri with similar gameplay.
- Kabu-kei games are showdown/banking games where the strength of a hand depends on the ones digit of the sum of the numbers on the cards in hand, similar to Baccarat.
- Kingo-kei games are showdown/banking games where players keep drawing cards until the sum of numbers on the cards in hand reaches 15, and if they exceed 15, it’s a bust. The gameplay is comparable to Blackjack.
- Yomi-kei is the Japanese term for sequence games.
- Honbiki-kei games involve players choosing between two or more options, and those who chose the strongest option (or the option chosen by the banker) wins the game. The most popular game of this style is Tehonbiki; however, that game uses special sets of cards instead of a hanafuda deck.
Also, in a Hana-Awase style game, if only 2 players are participating in a matching battle, it is called Sashi-bana (さし花). This includes playing games that are designed for 2 players only, as well as playing a 2-player variant of a game normally played by 3 or more players.
These games are relatively widely known, and quite frequently show up in rule books and video games.
| Game |
Players |
Family |
Style |
Origin |
| Go-Stop, a.k.a. Godori |
2-3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Korea |
| Hachi-Hachi (“Eighty-Eight”), a.k.a. Yokohama-Bana |
2-3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Yokohama, Japan |
| Hana-Awase |
2-4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Koi-Koi |
usually 2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Disputed |
| Min-Hwatu |
2-6 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Korea |
| Mushi, a.k.a. Ochi or Osaka Mushi |
2 per round, max 4 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Osaka, Japan |
| Oicho-Kabu, a.k.a. Kabu, Kaho or Katori |
2-10 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Roppyakken, a.k.a. Roppyakuken or Roppyakuten |
2-3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Sakura, a.k.a. Higo-Bana, Kumamoto-Bana, or Hawaiian Hanafuda |
2-7 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Higo Province, Japan |
| Seotda, a.k.a. Sutda |
2-20 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Korea |
These games, while not as widespread today as those listed above, are variously attested and referenced in some rule books, video games, or other historical documents.
| Game |
Players |
Family |
Style |
Origin |
| Akita-Bana |
- |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Akita, Japan |
| Atosaki |
2+ |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Ayame Katsugi |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Ba Chō-Han |
2+ |
Showdown |
Honbiki-kei |
Tōhoku region, Japan |
| Baka |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Hokkaido region, Japan |
| Bakabana |
4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Ohama District, Usuki City, Oita Prefecture, Japan |
| Bakappana |
2-4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Batta Maki, a.k.a Batta |
2+ |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Kanto Region, Japan |
| Bitta Mekuri |
2-48 |
Showdown |
unconventional |
Japan |
| Bizen-Bana |
- |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Bizen Province, Japan |
| Bō-Ni |
2-10 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Bō-Pin |
2-10 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Botan-chō, a.k.a Kanto Mushi |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Kanto region, Japan |
| Changara |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Kanto region, Japan |
| Chunchun |
3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
San’yō region, Japan |
| Dare |
2-4 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Dorijitgo-ttaeng |
2-8 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Korea |
| Echobo, a.k.a Ehonbiki |
2+ |
Banking |
Honbiki-kei |
Kanto Region, Japan |
| Enshu-Bana, a.k.a. Shishibochushin |
2-3 per round, max 5 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Tōtōmi Province, Japan |
| Gomai Kabu |
8 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Gopsaechigi |
- |
Climbing |
unconventional |
Korea |
| Hachi |
2 |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Japan |
| Hachi-Jū-Hana |
2-3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Hanahuda, a.k.a. Hanakuda or Palauan Hanafuda |
2-4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Palau |
| Hana-Tanzaku |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Hankan |
2+ |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Chukyo region, Japan |
| Hiki-Kabu, a.k.a Uchi-Kabu |
2-10 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Hiraya |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Hiyoko, a.k.a. Shosho |
2-4 |
Sequence |
Yomi-kei |
Japan |
| Hon-Bana |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase, Tensho-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Hyaku-Ochi, a.k.a. Hyaku-Otoshi |
2-3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Ichi-Ni-San |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Ino-Shika-Chō, old version |
2+ |
Banking |
Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Ino-Shika-Chō (Roppyakken variant) |
2-3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Ishikari Toppa |
3 per round |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Ishikari Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Isuri, a.k.a. Yusuri |
2 |
Sequence |
Yomi-kei |
Japan |
| Issoku Yuki |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Jū-Mai |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Jumai Kabu a.k.a. Sumotori Kabu |
2+ |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Shikoku Island, Japan |
| Kabu-Tsukuri |
2-5 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Kachi-Kachi, a.k.a Junjun, Dondon, Totto, or Setta |
2-8 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Kaga |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Kaga Province, Hokuriku region, Japan |
| Kakkuri |
7-8 |
Sequence |
Yomi-kei |
Yafune Town, Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan |
| Karafuto Kabu |
2+ |
Banking |
Honbiki-kei |
Karafuto Prefecture (Now South Sakhalin) |
| Kasuto |
- |
- |
- |
Japan |
| Kazu-Tori |
4 |
Slapjack |
unconventional |
- |
| Kekoro |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase, Mekuri-kei |
- |
| Kingo |
2-10 |
Showdown/Banking |
Kingo-kei |
- |
| Koi-Koi no Atosaki |
2+ |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Kujuroku |
3 per round, max 4 per game |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Akehama Town, Ehime Prefecture, Japan |
| Kushiro Toppa |
2 per round, max 4 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Kusuri-Gui |
2 |
Fishing |
unconventional |
Japan |
| Kyo-Kabu |
2-10 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Kyū-Rei Hana |
3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
San’yō region, Japan |
| Mae-Dashi |
- |
- |
- |
Japan |
| Matsu-Kiri-Bōzu |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Mekuri |
3 per round, max 4 per game |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Japan |
| Musashino-Bana |
3-4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Mushi-Kabu |
2-10 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei |
Osaka, Japan |
| Mutsu-Wari |
2+ |
Showdown/Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tōkai region, Japan |
| Nana-Tan |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Nanbu-Bana |
- |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Nanbu (which?), Japan |
| Nara Hana-Awase, a.k.a. Daibutsu-Bana |
4 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Daibutsu-mae, Nara Prefecture, Japan |
| Ni-Shi-Roku |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Nylon-ppong |
2-6 |
Draw and Discard |
unconventional |
Korea |
| Nuki Hachi-Hachi |
2 per round, max 4 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Oi-Bana |
2 per round, 3-6 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Oni Koi-Koi |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Gifu, Japan |
| Otoroku |
5-6 |
Banking |
Kingo-kei |
Tōkai region, Japan |
| Poka |
2 |
Sequence |
Yomi-kei |
- |
| Roku-Tan |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Saburokku, a.k.a. Bakananatan |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Sanbyakuken |
2-3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| San-Jū Tsuppari |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Sanmai Kabu |
2+ |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Aomori Prefecture, Japan |
| Sanuki Mekuri |
2 |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Sanuki Province, Japan |
| San-Zoku Go-Jū |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| San-Zoku Tsuppari |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Sashikomi |
2 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Japan |
| Senbon-Hana |
- |
- |
- |
Japan |
| Sendai-Hana |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Sendai, Japan |
| Sen-Roku-Jū, a.k.a. Maebashi-Hana |
3 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Maebashi, Japan |
| Shimafuda, a.k.a. Jifuda or Ichi-Ni-San |
3-4 |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Gushikawa, Uruma City, Okinawa, Japan |
| Shippin |
2-5 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei, Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Shippin (Kingo variant) |
- |
- |
Kingo-kei |
Japan |
| Shoniban |
2+ |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Soro |
- |
Showdown |
- |
Okinawa, Japan |
| Subeta Mekuri, a.k.a. Sento or Sentochi |
3 |
Fishing |
Mekuri-kei |
Chūkyō Region, Japan |
| Sudaoshi, a.k.a. Taoshi or Moto Taoshi |
3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Japan |
| Suhara-Bana |
3 per round, 4-5 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Okuwa Village, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture,Japan |
| Taiyaku, a.k.a Echigobana |
2-3 per round, max 7 per game |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Echigo Province (Now Niigata Prefecture), Japan |
| Takame |
2+ |
Showdown/Banking |
Honbiki-kei |
Japan |
| Tensho |
2 |
Fishing |
Tensho-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Tokotoko |
2 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Toppa |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Hokkaido region, Japan |
| Towashi |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Wolnam-ppong |
2-16 |
Showdown |
unconventional |
Korea |
| Yamayaku |
2 |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Tokyo, Japan |
| Yari-Tori |
2 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Yari-Tori Tokotoko |
2 |
Showdown |
Kabu-kei |
Nagoya region, Japan |
| Yatchaba |
4-6 |
Guessing |
unconventional |
Japan |
| Yaku-Bana |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| Yamagata-Bana |
- |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Yamagata, Japan |
| Yokohama-Bana, not Hachi-hachi |
3 per round |
Fishing |
Hana-Awase |
Kanagawa Region, Japan |
| Yomi |
3-4 |
Sequence |
Yomi-kei |
Japan |
| Yoshi |
2-13 |
Banking |
Kabu-kei |
Shikoku Island, Japan |
| Zeze-Hana |
- |
- |
- |
Japan |
This is a list of contemporary creations to be played with a hanafuda deck. It is subdivided by game creator, which are alphabetized by last name when available.
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Oni, a.k.a. 270 |
2-8 |
Matching |
Hanafuda Hawaii is a Hawaii-based playing card company focussed on hanafuda.
IndianWolf Studios is a two-person indie studio that creates board games, card games, playing cards, and digital games.
The following are simplified versions of traditional games and fusion games based on Western card games, found in their book Hanafuda Games: Sensu Edition.
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Hachi (Simplified) |
2 |
Fishing |
| Hana-Gin |
2 |
Draw and Discard |
| Hana-Rumi |
2-4 |
Draw and Discard |
| Hiyoko (Simplified) |
2-4 |
Sequence |
| Isuri (Simplified) |
2-3 |
Sequence |
| Kage |
2 |
Sequence |
| Orochi |
2-4 |
Sequence |
| Simplified Game for Beginners |
2-4 |
Fishing |
| Sota |
2-10 |
Showdown |
| Sutda |
2-10 |
Showdown |
| Sutda (Simplified) |
2-10 |
Showdown |
| Tensho (Simplified) |
2 |
Fishing |
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Bozu-Mekuri |
- |
- |
| Dobutsu-Asobi |
- |
- |
| Fuda-Awase |
- |
- |
| Fuda-Narabe |
- |
- |
| Fuda-Okoshi |
- |
- |
| Fuda-Soroe |
- |
- |
| Fuda-Tsukami |
- |
- |
| Kyuten-Tori |
- |
- |
| Oni-Nuki |
- |
- |
| Tsuki-Ate |
- |
- |
| Zei-kan |
- |
- |
Card games designed by Louie Mantia, Jr. for his playing card and game company Junior.
Independent Japanese mobile game developer
¶ K.K. Corner and R. Whitbeck
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Kwa-Dō |
2-6 |
Fishing |
Website for news and articles related to trains, tourism and leisure.
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Ino-Shika-Chō (Hana-awase that even kids can play) |
3 |
Fishing |
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Gardening |
2 |
Draw and Discard |
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Hanapette |
2 |
Speed and Sequence |
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Mekuri-Kabu (Turning Up Nine) |
2-10 |
Showdown |
| Oni-Mawashi (Demon’s Belt) |
3, 4, or 6 |
Card Passing |
| Tsuki-Narabe (Month Arrangement) |
3-4 |
Draw and Discard |
| Yon-San (Four-Three) |
3 |
Commerce |
| Game |
Players |
Family |
| Pin K |
Presumably 2-10 |
Showdown |
Japanese tabletop game company specializing in fast-paced modern takes on classic games.
- Aihondo. “Game List.” Aihondo Hanafuda, https://sites.google.com/site/hanafudasupport/gamelist.
- Johnson, Jason, and Antonietta Fazio-Johnson. Hanafuda Games, Hanami ed., IndianWolf Studios, 2017.
- Shiono, Suehiko. Teikei Aru Hanzai No Chōsa. Shihōshō Chōsaka, 1921, National Diet Library, dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1878761.
- Tobaku Ni Kansuru chōsa. vol. 121, Shihōshō Chōsaka, 1927, National Diet Library, dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/1269696.
- “Bakabana”, https://web.archive.org/web/20040810024856/http://homepage3.nifty.com/noguta/karuta/usuki.html