The Hyakunin Isshu

Hello readers! It’s been a while (almost 10 years in fact) since I last posted to this blog. My interest in the Hyakunin Isshu has not diminished during that time, but I had reached the end of the initial project, and then focused on other things at the time. Now, things have somewhat come full-circle and if you are still here, I hope you enjoy these new posts.

Lately, I have been playing a great Nintendo game called Splatoon 2, a fun, futuristic game involving sea life that has evolved long after humans are gone, and is also a satire on Japanese culture.

During the main story quest, players can pick up special journey entries that provide a window into the life of Inklings and Inkopolis city, and I was surprised by this entry:

Look familiar? These are karuta cards from the Hyakunin Isshu anthology, but featuring Splatoon characters instead! The text alludes to a karuta game tournament, just like those that take place in Japan.

I always enjoy it when subtle elements of Japanese culture make their way into popular games.¹

If you own a Switch, but haven’t played Splatoon 2 yet, definitely pick it up and see if you can find this journal entry too. 🦑

¹ Another example in the other blog.