Hanafuda

Hanafuda (Japanese: 花札, lit. 'flower cards') are a type of Japanese playing cards. They are typically smaller than Western playing cards, only 5.4 by 3.2 centimetres (2.1 by 1.3 in), but thicker and stiffer. On the face of each card is a depiction of plants, tanzaku (短冊), animals, birds, or man-made objects. One single card depicts a human. The back side is usually plain, without a pattern or design of any kind, and traditionally colored either red or black. Hanafuda are used to play a variety of games including Koi-Koi and Hachi-Hachi.