Ōishi Tengudō (大石天狗堂, also romanized variously as Oishi Tengudo, Ooishi Tengudo or Ohishi Tengudo) is a major Kyōto-based producer of traditional Japanese Karuta.
They were founded in 1800 as Minatoya, during the time when selling karuta was illegal. To get around this, their cover business was that of a rice merchant, and all production and sales of karuta were done under the counter.
Ōishi Tengudō has several manufacturer marks. Usually it uses a Red beardless Tengu mask, or a み with a ^ on top, but in the past, they also used a 大 in a square, and even further past, they used a 高 in a circle.
The meaning of the company name comes from the family name of the founder Kuranosuke Ōishi (大石蔵之介), and the Tengu, which is the secret term for hanafuda, in reference to rubbing one’s nose to signal the seller that the person wants to buy hanafuda illegally.
Although their main product is Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Karuta, Ōishi Tengudō still continues to manufacture Hanafuda, Kabufuda, and other types of Karuta, today.
¶ Current Brands of Hanafuda
NOTE That the quality description on these brands reflect those being sold today. The quality of decks made in prior decades would be vastly different.
| Name |
Quality |
Trivia |
| Kintengu (Golden Tengu) |
Their high-end brand of Hanafuda decks. Has a papery finish on both front and back when compared to products made by other current Hanafuda manufacturers. The cards are intentionally curved as a result of employing manual processes in manufacturing. |
Trademarked in 1921. |
| Gintengu (Silver Tengu) |
Their 2nd-grade brand of Hanafuda decks. Same quality as Kintengu but the centering of the backpaper is less accurate than Kintengu. |
Trademarked in 1921. |
| Lincoln |
Their 3rd-grade brand of Hanafuda decks. Same quality as Kintengu but the centering of the backpaper is less accurate than Gintengu. |
Its original trademark name was Abraham Lincoln Daitōryō (President Abraham Lincoln), which was applied in March 17, 1940. Nintendo filed a case against Ōishi Tengudō for using the word “Daitōryō” in the trademark, which had a trial in 1954. |
| Shiki (Four Seasons) |
Has a completely different quality to the other three brands. The front and back are printed glossy paper, and no backpaper is applied, so the edges of the card are exposed. |
- |
- Prime Minister’s Hanakaruta - this is a replica of a hanafuda deck that was commissioned by former Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi. The cards are larger and thicker than regular hanafuda cards, and have detailed woodblock patterns seemingly inspired by Echigo-bana. Waka poems are also included.
- Echigobana - a regional Hanafuda deck from Niigata prefecture. Copies the design of old woodblock-printed hanafuda from the Edo period. Characterized by very crude-looking drawings, striped skies, poems on the Chaff, and a liberal use of silver and gold paint on all cards. Rainman is depicted as braving a storm inside a closed umbrella, while the Chaff of Willow does not depict a Thunderstorm.
- Echigokobana - an Echigo-bana variant but smaller in dimensions and has no Waka poems. The Rainman has a raccoon tail, the yellow paulownia chaff has a small ribbon on it. Comes with 3 Onifuda cards.
- Kintokibana - a unique pattern from Shikoku island, with some silver overprints. Most Chaff, Ribbons, and some other cards explicitly mention the month number on the cards. The Chaff of Pine and Susuki Grass have a very abridged version of the Echigo-bana poems. Includes an Onifuda which depicts Kintaro.
- Attack on Titan Hanafuda (manufactured for TOKYOGETS’s “Charaditional Toy” line)
- LoveLive! Hanafuda (manufactured for TOKYOGETS’s “Charaditional Toy” line)
- Nintama Rantaro Hanafuda (manufactured for TOKYOGETS’s “Charaditional Toy” line)
- The Quintessential Quintuplets Hanafuda (manufactured for TOKYOGETS’s “Charaditional Toy” line)
- Urusei Yatsura Hanafuda (manufactured for TOKYOGETS’s “Charaditional Toy” line)
- Kyoto Hanafuda (designed by Nakano Design Laboratory, Kyoto Institute of Technology) - An original hanafuda deck design with Kyoto’s specialties and famous places.
- Otōri danshi: Jōka Hanafuda
- Spirited Away Hanafuda
- The Great Yokai War: Guardians Hanafuda
- New Era 9THIRTY Hanafuda - Included when you buy a special Ōishi Tengudō design New Era 9THIRTY Cap.
- Starbucks Reserve Roastery Hanafuda - Sold only at Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo, Japan.
- Nakayoshi Village Hachi-hachi Hanafuda - An original hanafuda deck design with indices telling the month and score of each card, as well as illustrations inspired by the art of paper-cutting. Created in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of Nakayoshi Village and Game Tree, a group of people who enjoy playing board games.
¶ Discontinued Brands
- Atariya (Winning Arrow)
- Bugaku (Courtly Dance)
- Fukusuke - Trademarked in 1917, discontinued in 1979.
- Goshoguruma (Ox-drawn Coach)
- Hanazukushi (Assorted Flowers)
- Ha-ō (Supreme Ruler) - Trademarked in 1921.
- Hashidatejirushi (Hashidate Brand) - Trademarked in 1921.
- Ippatsu (One Shot)
- Kokkou (National Glory) - Trademarked in 1915.
- Matsushimajirushi (Matsushima Brand) - Trademarked in 1921.
- (Miyashima brand) - Trademarked in 1921.
- Narikin (Newly Rich) - Trademarked in 1921.
- Ōeyama (Mt. Oe)
- Raifuku - Trademarked in 1921.
- Sakura
- Sanfuku (Three Fuku Masks) - Trademarked in 1915.
- Santengu (Three Tengu)
- Shōgun - Trademarked in 1921.
- Shoryū (Rising Dragon) - Trademarked in 1921.
- Takarabune (Treasure Ship)
- Umejirushi (Plum Brand) - Trademarked in 1915.
- Wakatengu (Young Tengu)
- Yuranosuke - Trademarked in 1921.