Event Details
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20th Anniversary of Hayakawa – Let’s Play Karuta Vol.2
MAY
04
2025
11:00 AM
Hayakawa Japanese Language School & Cultural Center
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PS
Entry is FREE! This event is only for the current/ex-students of Hayakawa.
Details
Event Overview
Hayakawa celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Since starting in 2005 with just one student, Hayakawa has grown to train over 1,500 students annually, with a strong commitment to developing Japanese language skills and promoting Japanese culture.
To mark this important milestone, we invite you to experience the elegance and excitement of Hyakunin Isshu Karuta, a traditional Japanese poetry card game.
About Hyakunin Isshu Karuta
Hyakunin Isshu is a renowned anthology of one hundred short poems (tanka), each written by a different poet, compiled by Fujiwara no Teika in the 13th century. This collection later inspired the card game uta-garuta, where players listen to the recitation of a poem and quickly find the corresponding card.
The poems are written in Hiragana, making the game accessible to anyone who can read basic Japanese script.
Hayakawa’s Special Karuta Game
Hayakawa is proud to be the only place in Chennai to organize a Karuta event. Our Karuta session will be a team-based, friendly match rather than a competitive tournament.
- Teams will consist of up to three students. (No restrictions on age or Japanese level.)
- Each match will feature two teams competing against each other.
- Each team will be identified by a unique Kabuto (Samurai helmet).
- The event will have three rounds, leading up to a final match to decide the champions.
- In the first round, individual students who collect the highest number of cards will receive a special prize.
Game Rules
- Each match will have two competing teams, one referee, and one reader.
- The reader will recite only the last two lines of the poem.
- A total of 50 Play Cards (Torifuda) will be placed on the playing field, 25 on each team's side.
- Players must quickly touch the correct card after hearing the poem. Cards on the opposing team's side can also be taken.
- The team that touches the correct card first wins that card.
- If a player touches the wrong card (o-tetsuki), their team must give one previously won card to the opposing team. If they have no cards to surrender, they must skip the next poem.
Anyone who can read Hiragana can participate and enjoy the game.
Important Information
Registration is mandatory and must be completed by May 2, 2025, 5:00 PM IST.
We look forward to celebrating Hayakawa’s 20 years with you through tradition, learning, and friendly competition. Join us for a memorable cultural experience.
