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Nintendo's Forgotten Product Lines

Hyakunin Isshu

by Danny Bivens - November 26, 2013, 6:36 pm EST

Pick up that card as fast as you can!

Hyakunin Isshu, or more importantly in this case, Ogrua Hyakunin Isshu, is a card game that has been popular in Japan for hundreds of years. There are a total of one hundred cards each containing a classical poem written in Japanese. The game is a kind of karuta (based on the Portuguese word for card, carta), which consists of placing all the cards face up, and then having a reader call out a card to which the players search for and grab as quickly as possible. Hyakunin Isshu has one of these classical poems written on each card, so as the reader starts reading the poem, the players have to search frantically to find the correct card and pick it up. The person who collects the most cards wins. 

Nintendo’s sets are varied in price based on materials used and stylization. There are a total of seven different sets available and a CD with the readings for each poem. The game is typically played by Japanese during the New Year’s holiday and is even played competitively on the national stage.

Here we have the two top of the line sets that Nintendo has to offer. First up is the Tokusen (Select) set which sells for 31,500 yen (about $315 USD) and the Gokujyō (Best) set selling for 12,600 yen (about $126 USD). The biggest differences here are the cases and stylization used on the cards. Both feature a gold leaf style paper back on the cards.


The Kasen (Great Poet) set at the top sells for 5,250 yen (about $52.50 USD) and the Kyōgiyo (Competition) set for 4,725 yen (about $47.25 USD). Both boxes are high quality Japanese paper boxes.


Here we have the Arashiyama (Stormy Mountain) with CD set for 3,150 yen ($31.50 USD) and Heian (referring to the period in Japanese history) set for 2,625 yen (about $26.25 USD). 


Finally, we have the Maioōgi (Dancer's Fan) set for 1,575 yen (about $15.75 USD) and the CD with the readings for the poems for 2,100 yen (about $21 USD). The CD isn't necessary to play the game but is available for people who are interested.

Note: The exchange rate at the time of writing was roughly $1 USD = 100 yen.

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Talkback

azekeNovember 26, 2013

I recommend "History of Nintendo" books by Pix'n'Love if you're interested in that kind of stuff. Lots of information about Nintendo's products before they entered videogames, highly fascinating stuff.

That sounds awesome! I'll have to be sure to check it out!

azekeNovember 27, 2013

Just make sure you handle books with care. Binding isn't all that good in first two volumes -- i have first book with few pages literally falling from it.

Also i heard complaints that english translation isn't all that good (english being my third language, i honestly can't tell), so if you're fluent in French -- you might want to check out books in original French.

I'm going through the first volume in French, it's good stuff!

Towards the end, it almost becomes a catalog of old Nintendo toys, but there are still fun facts to be learned. For instance, I didn't expect to see that the Game Boy's Game Link cable had a predecessor... in 1982. For Nintendo's Yakuman portable electronic Mah-jong game!

CericNovember 27, 2013

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

Damn Nintendo for disappointing us!  :P

I seriously want to get one of Hyakunin Isshu sets. To play a competitive game all by myself. Woo?!

Quote from: Ceric

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

You mean exactly like this?

They made plenty of toys, of board games, of little "travel size" toys, electronic toys. They had their own designs, and they licensed toys and games from other companies for sale in Japan as well.

CericNovember 27, 2013

Quote from: Pandareus

Quote from: Ceric

I was expecting something more to tell you the truth.  I mean I didn't know all the variations of play cards they have but I did know they made all those cards.  I also knew they made a lot of what would be thought of as traditional Japanese games.  I was sort of hoping to find out they made bikes or an action figure line not related to any of their game properties.  Lego like things.  You know something that just makes you go "Oh that is a toy."

You mean exactly like this?

They made plenty of toys, of board games, of little "travel size" toys, electronic toys. They had their own designs, and they licensed toys and games from other companies for sale in Japan as well.

Yes, I'm fairly sure We've posted those before but, yes.  Only still making.

sehrgutDecember 06, 2013

They actually still manufacture harifuda cards for tehonbiki as well. Only the Daitōryō are available, and they're sold without the nice plastic case the hanafuda and kabufuda come in: they're just the inner paperboard box.

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