Hey folks and friends of the Japanese culture!

I've been thinking about making my own Hanafuda cards. They've caught my interest ever since I got my hands on a deck from Nintendo. I have a rough idea for the design but I'm not sure which kind of material I should use. Plastics are out of question, and I highly doubt that I'll find any mulberry tree bark. So, what would be the best material: Wood? Cardboard? Any other sort of paper?

Any experienced players out there? What are your preferences?

[color=#8A795D]"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."

• Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts[/color]

To be savoured:

• Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
• Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
• Gangsta. by Kohske
• Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata

If you don't like the hardness, weight, or expense of wood, you might try chipboard, which you can usually get from your local arts and crafts store.

Edit: Ah, please note that I am talking about the kind of board used for making hardcover books, not the thicker compressed chipwood planks that are used for building cheap desks. If you just google "chipboard", you tend to get the planks as your first hits. ^^;

Good luck! ^^

Thanks, zk! Chipboard seems to be a good alternative compared to the usual cardboard. How hard would it be if I wanted to use 1-1.5 mm thick chipboard?

I'm still open for other suggestions! Has anyone worked with wooden boards as thin as a hardcover binding before?

[color=#8A795D]"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."

• Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts[/color]

To be savoured:

• Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
• Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
• Gangsta. by Kohske
• Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata

Hello Tripitaka,

I use 1-1.5mm chipboard to make my own extra large art portfolios, so I can say that the stuff is quite sturdy. I think, cut into small cards, it would be able to take a bit of of rough playing without getting easily bent. Another plus is that it can be cut with an exacto knife/stencil knife/box cutter, so you wouldn't need a saw for it. Of course, if you want to know that there is absolutely no risk of ever bending, denting, etc., you could use thin wood like you mentioned. It would just take a bit more work and possibly be a bit heavier. 🙂

Good to know! I'll definitely keep your idea in mind. If I don't get any other, well-suited suggestions, I'll go with chipboard.

[color=#8A795D]"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."

• Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts[/color]

To be savoured:

• Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
• Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
• Gangsta. by Kohske
• Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata

Still no Hanafuda players at MU? Or anyone who has worked with wooden plates before?

[color=#8A795D]"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."

• Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts[/color]

To be savoured:

• Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
• Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
• Gangsta. by Kohske
• Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata