Marufuku jirushi (丸福印, Marufuku mark) was one of Nintendo’s middle-class brands of hanafuda, kabufuda, mekurifuda, and other karuta decks.
The brand is unique in that the name of the brand is not explicitly written on the label; instead, it is merely represented by the Marufuku logo. This would also be done in another brand called Marufuku Sakura, although it is not known if it is the same brand as this one.
It was one of Nintendo’s four oldest registered trademarks in the Japan Patent Office, registered in 1900. The other trademarks registered were Taisho, Masamune, and Otafuku.
It was the 9th highest-ranking brand in Nintendo’s hanafuda lineup, behind both Asahi Sakura and Kintengu, and followed by Yaezakura, Kikusui, and Gintengu.
As a kabufuda brand, it ranks above Masayuki, and below Eiyu and Kintengu.
As a regional karuta brand, it ranks above Hiruko, and below Eiyu.
The brand is extremely rare, and no existing deck has showed up on the internet, though a box of one existed (but it contained a deck of a different manufacturer).
¶ Brand Line Up (1930’s Catalog)
¶ Hanafuda
| Grade | Brand Name | Price in JPY (per pair of decks) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Daitoryo | 3.55 |
| 2. | Taisho | 3.45 |
| 3. | Otafuku | 3.30 |
| 4. | Masamune | 3.25 |
| 5. | Shiko jirushi | 3.20 |
| 6. | Ginsekai | 3.05 |
| 7. | Chujo | 2.78 |
| 8. | Asahi Sakura, Kintengu |
2.68 |
| 9. | Marufuku jirushi | 2.63 |
| 10. | Yaezakura, Kikusui, Gintengu |
2.58 |
| 11. | Konishiki jirushi | 2.38 |
| 12. | Kikumaku | 2.33 |
| 13. | Tokiwa | 2.23 |
| 14. | Hatsuzakura | 2.18 |
| 15. | Hyaku-en | 1.87 |
| 16. | Hi No De | 1.77 |
| 17. | Hana No Yama | 1.67 |
| 18. | Miyako No Hana | 1.57 |
¶ Brand Line Up (1928 Catalog)
¶ Hanafuda
| Grade | Brand Name | Price in JPY (per pair of decks) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Daitoryo | 3.50 |
| 2. | Taisho | 3.40 |
| 3. | Otafuku | 3.25 |
| 4. | Masamune | 3.20 |
| 5. | Shiko jirushi | 3.15 |
| 6. | Ginsekai | 3.00 |
| 7. | Chujo | 2.75 |
| 8. | Asahi Sakura, Kintengu |
2.65 |
| 9. | Marufuku jirushi | 2.60 |
| 10. | Yaezakura, Kikusui, Gintengu |
2.55 |
| 11. | Konishiki jirushi | 2.35 |
| 12. | Kikumaku | 2.30 |
| 13. | Tokiwa | 2.20 |
| 14. | Hatsuzakura | 2.15 |
| 15. | Hyaku-en | 1.85 |
| 16. | Hi No De | 1.75 |
| 17. | Hana No Yama | 1.65 |