During the old times in Japan there was a custom for children to play various games on the New Year: Hanetsuki, a type of badminton with wooden paddles and shuttlecocks, Koma tops spinning and Karuta, a traditional Japanese card game.

Photographed here is a life-size scene at the Himeji Castle, representing Senhime, the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, while playing Karuta with her daughter, Katsuhime.

Senhime and Katsuhime Playing Karuta, Himeji Castle, Himeji

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Good luck charms for the New Year, Hamaya