Un-Sun Karuta Tournament

October 17, 2010

This year’s Un-Sun Karuta Tournament took place in Hitoyoshi, October 10. Twelve teams from all over Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka and Nara, travelled to Hitoyoshi to take part in this event, also visited by the Kumamoto city mayor.

A whole street of Hitoyoshi was filled with curious viewers, and different businesses opened their doors to host the games that took place throughout the day. For those who decided to watch only, a small market was available with varied souvenirs from Hitoyoshi, clothes and toys.

In an initial opening ceremony, a letter written by the Portuguese Ambassador was read both in Portuguese and Japanese, and an oath was taken by the players to honour the game. The teams, dressed in their red or blue happis (see photo), then set out to play 3 decisive games – one in the morning, two in the afternoon. This year, the game was also eagerly followed by Japanese newspapers and national television due to the Portuguese attendance.

All of the three winning teams came from Hitoyoshi but, in effect, it was the “International Team”, whose members living in Hitoyoshi come originally from Portugal, South Africa, United States and Japan, which ended up in 1st place. The winners were awarded a diploma and their names were written in a ribbon, which will be placed with the cup until next year’s tournament.

(Photo by the Kumamoto Newspaper)

The Un-Sun Karuta, if expanded to Portugal, can be a wonderful way of developing greater friendship ties between Portugal and Japan.