The Deer Beneath The Maple
Why deer and autumn leaves share October's most recognizable Hanafuda card.
Stories
Seasonal stories
Essays, card notes, and cultural explainers from the October and September seasonal editions.
October's Hanafuda Cards
Maple, deer, blue ribbon and the two chaff cards of Hanafuda's tenth month.
What Is Momijigari?
Japan's autumn-leaf outings, when the color moves south, and why October is only the beginning.
Chrysanthemum and the Sake Cup
The chrysanthemum festival behind September’s sake cup card, and how the cup scores in Koi-Koi.
September’s Hanafuda Cards
Chrysanthemum, the sake cup, blue ribbon, and the two chaff cards of Hanafuda's ninth month.
What Is Tsukimi?
Japanese moon-viewing, the 2026 mid-autumn moon date, and why the full moon can fall two nights later.