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Tenshō Karuta (天正かる た) is the earliest known type of playing-card deck native to Japan, appearing during the Tenshō period (1573–1592). It recreated precisely the Portuguese decks of the period, retaining the imagery and composition of the originals.

In 1597 there is a reference in the records of the Chōsokabe family (長宗我部氏) that describes soldiers playing with cards.A[p. 43]

In 1636 the Portuguese were excluded from mainland Japan and in 1639 they were expelled from the country entirely. Tenshō cards were made illegal in 1648.A[p. 46]

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Original

The women on the left are playing cards with a Portuguese-influenced deck.
The Matsuura folding screen 松浦屏風, a National Treasure of Japan, created in the Edo period, currently at the Yamato Bunkakan.

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Unsun Karuta (うんすんかるた)

The Unsun Karuta becomes much more Japanese. It adds three new ranks, and a new suit.

Sunkun Karuta (すんくんかるた)

Sunkun adds another rank and suit, and one additional card.

Both types of card were banned in the 1790s.

References

  1. and (). ⁨The Dragons of Portugal⁩. ⁨Sandford⁩: Surrey, England, UK.