教育イロハカル. [Kyoiku iroha karuta]. [Educational Iroha Card Game].

No place of publication.: No details of publisher.. Circa1930. 48 colour educational picture cards with accompanying word cards and 2 spares, a total of 98 cards. The cards measure 7 x 5cm and are presented in a coloured pictorial card box measuring 15 x 11 x 4.5cm. Lower section of box repaired, the lid is soiled and a trifle worn with a small label of the Matsuzakaya Department Store on one side. A lovely 1930s game. This is a beautifully preserved iroha card game set comes complete with 48 picture cards and 48 word cards and 2 spare cards. The pictures were apparently drawn by Onuma Shogon (1899 - 1983) who often painted nature scenes and animals. They reflect the period in Japan when young boys wore short hair and school uniforms and women wore kimonos more often than western dress.

The iroha card game is a traditional board game for New Year day holiday when the family get together to have fun. Many children learn to read characters by playing the game and the sayings that appear on these word cards are still used commonly as proverbs in the contemporary Japan. .