Karuta season

Karuta is strongly associated with the New Year in Japan.  It’s one of the classic oshōgatsu (New Year) family games, played in homes, schools, and community events across the country. Many guides to Japanese New Year traditions list karuta alongside hanetsuki, fukuwarai, among others.

A lot of schools in Saitama Prefecture, and from what I can gage, other prefectures too, have a karuta event on in January. Our local elementary school had theirs on Friday. Only children that want to participate do. For that reason, it is held outside school hours, but is on in the school. For the first time ever, one of my children participated. My older children never participated when they were elementary school, because we used to travel and / or have more events on over the winter holiday. 

My daughter really enjoyed participating, but was surprised by the high level of skill of her peers and, particularly, her 'sempai' (children in the school year above her). Most of the kids that won have participated in the karuta tournament every year. Although there was one child who had never participated and finished in the top 8. There are individual events and group events. And the top players progress to a larger karuta event in the prefecture. 

Unfortunately, parents are not allowed view the event. But it was fun practising with her over the New Year holidays. I bought the karuta cards they use, which are specific to Saitama Prefecture (you will find a review on City-cost), so I also learned a couple of new things about Saitama in the process! Have you or your children / family ever participated in a karuta competiton / tournament?