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Japanese history and heroic lore, to fire him with enthusiasm and a love of those achievements which every samurai youth hopes at some day to perform. Then there are numerous social entertainments, at which the children above a certain age are allowed to be present. But the games relied on as standard means of amusement, and seen especially about New Year, are those of cards. In one of these, a large square sheet of paper is laid on the floor. On this card are the names and pictures of the fifty-three post-stations between Yedo and Kiôto. At the place Kiôto are put a few coins, or a pile of cakes, or some such prizes, and the games is played with dice. Each throw advances the player towards the goal, and the one arriving first obtains the prize. At this time of the year also, the games of cards called respectively Iroha Garuta, Hiyaku Nin Isshiu Guruta, Kokin Garuca, Genji and Shi Garuta are played a great deal. The Iroha Garuta are small cards each containing a proverb. The proverb is printed on one card, and the picture illustrating it upon another. Each proverb begins with a certain one of the 50 Japanese letters, i, ro, ha, &c., and so on through the syllabary. The children range themselves in a circle and the cards are shuffled and dealt. One is appointed to be reader. Looking at his cards he reads the proverb. The player who has the picture corresponding to the proverb calls out, and the match is made. Those who are rid of their cards first, win the game. The one holding the last card is the loser. If he be a boy, he has his face marked curiously with ink. If a girl, she has a paper or wisp of straw stuck in her hair.
The Hiaku Nin Isshiu Garuta game consists of two hundred cards, on which are inscribed the one hundred stanzas or poems so celebrated and known in every household. A stanza of Japanese poetry usually consists of two parts, a first and second, or upper and lower clause. The manner of playing the game is as follows. The reader reads half the stanza on his card, and the player, having the card on which the other half is written, calls out, and makes a match. Some children become so familiar
