Pokemon karuta: how the game works and what the cards are
Karuta is a Japanese card matching game. Showa Note has made a Pokémon edition every year since 1997.
- Maker
- Showa Note
- Years
- Every year since 1997
- In the box
- 45 picture cards, 45 reading cards, 2 blanks and a kana chart
- Card numbers
- None
Spread the picture cards face up. One player reads a verse while others race to grab its matching card. The player with the most cards wins.
Each picture and reading card pair shares one kana. The deck leaves out the final kana, leaving 45 pairs. A verse names the Pokémon to find.
Karuta cards have no numbers. Identify them by their kana and Pokémon, then check the box: different printings can put different Pokémon on the same kana.
Recent boxes use year names. A listed year can differ from the release year, so match the printing before placing loose cards. A checklist opens after all 45 positions are verified.
Quick answers
How do you play Pokémon karuta?
Spread the picture cards face up on the floor. One player reads the verses from the reading cards, and everyone else races to grab the matching picture card. Whoever holds the most picture cards at the end wins.
What is in a Pokémon karuta box?
92 pieces: 45 picture cards, 45 reading cards, 2 blank cards and a hiragana chart. The lid also suggests a counting game and an ABC game with the same cards.
Is Taruka the same as Pokémon karuta?
No. Taruka is a different Pokémon Center game, so it is not covered here.
Do graded karuta cards exist?
Yes. Graders slab single karuta cards, including reading cards. The label will not tell you which yearly box a card came from, though.
Hidden Temple Codex. First published 13 September 2026, rewritten 27 September 2026. Photos belong to the collectors credited on them.