Playing Cards Black President (Japan Import)

Like many other people, I because aware of the game Koi-Koi and Hanafuda (flower cards) from the anime movie Summer Wars. It was ironic that the internet was saved using Nintendo's original game from 1889. The Napoleon / President Hanafuda (flower cards) are the best quality Nintendo makes. Be warned, these cards are tiny. They are the size of a large postage stamp, but they are thick and sturdy. The instructions are also tiny and in Japanese. The symbol that looks like a steam iron with steam coming out of the bottom is the point scores for each game, (88, Koi-Koi, a few others). I searched the internet for various Koi-Koi rules because the book I ordered did not have very good instructions. Save your money and just search the internet for the rules. There are at least 4 good websites with instructions and a couple of YouTube videos. UPDATE: I've had this set for awhile now, and they hold up VERY well. I see NO wear or tear on any part of the cards. The slick finish has worn off slightly, so they are no longer slippery, but this makes them easier to hold. Now that I'm used to their small size, I find Western cards to be ridiculously huge. The plastic box this set comes in holds the cards well, and opens from either end. I definitely recommend this set over the less expensive set that does not have the plastic box. The box is worth it to keep the cards contained when not in use.

Daitoryo Cards have the best finish on them by far. I purchased a Tengu card set to find out if there was a difference and it’s huge. Daitoryo Have finish on both sides of the card, making them perfect for shuffling facedown. Tengu cards only have finish on the back of them, meaning if you wanted to shuffle the cards you would risk scratching the front of the cards trying to shuffle them facedown. Also without the finish being on the front of them dirt will collect on the faces of the cards easier. The faces of the cards also feel more like paper than the Daitoryo set of cards. In my opinion, grab the Daitoryo set, it’s only a little more expensive but the cards will last a lot longer, won’t scratch, and won’t get dirty as quick. Sure the case isn’t as fun to look at, but you’ll be getting the best quality cards. Black and Red cards are available, purchase based on what color you will be playing on the most. I bought black ones and then played against a black leather ottoman a lot at night, the cards blended in too well. So if you are playing against black, buy red cards. If you are playing against wood or red, then buy black cards. If none of that matters to you, grab whatever you want. Red looks more like burgundy than red to me. I expected a red like the Japanese sun, but it’s darker than that.

Nintendo's "President" Hanakuda deck is a beautiful recreation of their historic playing cards. Vibrant colors, clear print, and quality card stock contribute to a satisfying tactile experience (they DO make a nice "click" when you deal them on the table!). A wealth of recent research brings this deck to life with seemingly limitless gameplay options. The packaging is equally stunning and includes a thin plastic hang box, a heavy plastic storage box featuring a portrait of Napoleon, and an inner cardboard box with Nintendo seal. Worth every penny.

These cards are gorgeous, and I totally dig that quality Japanese plastic case they come with. lol Napoleon the president of France? Well, they didn't get around much or watch any cool Godard flicks back when these were first manufactured. I'm definitely getting a red deck of these, too. For you beginners, these are small for us bear-pawed Westerners, and the instructions are only in Japanese so you'll need to look English ones up online. But, you'll figure out the suits, the scoring members of them, and the hands they're comprised of sooner than you think. The reason I rated them a 4 out of 5 is an issue I have with their design. I don't like the black paper frame around the card image; I can see this being where any avoidable wear and tear will occur.

A nice card set, reportedly the highest quality set manufactured and sold by Nintendo in Japan. The material does appear to be a type of card stock wrapped in paper. The paper wraps from the back and terminates as the red or black borders (depending on which color you buy) you see in the front. I do have some concern that the paper will eventually tear at the corners, mainly from being taken in and out of the box. It definitely makes a nice collectors set at the very least. They feel very good in the hand and play well. The box is very nice and sturdy. If you're lucky enough to live near a Daiso store, they sell a deck made from PVC for $1.50. That same deck is available from several resellers here for $5-$6, and is still a great deal at that price. The Daiso deck does seem more like a "toy" than these Nintendo decks, but is extremely durable due to the PVC construction.

These cards are of exceptional quality, fit and finish. The stock for these cards are thick, the artwork is authentic and true to the original Hanafuda styling, and they are all bound in a simply but sturdy plastic case. A word of warning however; the instructions for play are completely in Japanese, so if you are looking to learn how to play, you'll need to learn the rules from online resources or other experienced players.

High quality tile cards would highly recommend the way they click on the table is satisfying

Love these cards and the game itself. New favorite and the case that holds them is sturdy to ensure they stay in good condition. They are smaller then I expected but got used to that, good for traveling. Game is new and a fun addition to our family game night.