Eiyu (英雄, Hero) was one of Nintendo’s middle-class brands of kabufuda, mushibana, and other regional karuta decks.
It features a portrait of Saigo Takamori (西郷隆盛, January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877), famously considered as “the last Samurai” and one of The Three Nobles who led the Meiji Restoration.
As a kabufuda brand, it was of the same rank as Kintengu, ranks below Chujo, and ranks above Marufuku jirushi.
As a mushibana brand, it ranks below Chujo and ranks above Kikumaku.
As a regional karuta brand, it ranks below Chujo and Kinryu, and ranks above Marufuku jirushi.
It was known to be used until as late as 1944-1946 before it was discontinued. However, the brand has been listed on the end of the wrapper of most Nintendo decks (until 1963). The brand was quite rare, and only a few existing kabufuda decks appeared on the internet.