An 800-Year-Old Card Game Goes Global

What this episode covers

An eight-hundred-year-old anthology of Japanese poems is quietly becoming one of Japan's most exportable business assets. In a freshly merged rural cooperative office, Haru and Sakura trace how the Hyakunin Isshu — one hundred classical poems curated on Mount Ogura centuries ago — now powers crackers, cocktails, card games, and more. Kyoto cracker maker Ogura Sansou opens its first overseas store in Taipei, selling not senbei but the "heart of giving." Lake Biwa Hotel brews a cocktail for every poem. A startup compresses the game into five minutes for Gen Z. Why does one old thing bend into so many shapes? Because the curation was done eight centuries ago. A story about shrinking regions, cultural heritage, and what we choose to carry forward. Subscribe to Narrative Japan, and ask yourself: what's in your box?◆NoteThe content of this program is intended solely for informational purposes and reflects the personal views of the creators. Please make any investment or business decisions based on your own judgment and responsibility. This program does not endorse or recommend any specific financial products or investment strategies.

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This episode was published on June 23, 2026.

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An eight-hundred-year-old anthology of Japanese poems is quietly becoming one of Japan's most exportable business assets. In a freshly merged rural cooperative office, Haru and Sakura trace how the Hyakunin Isshu — one hundred classical poems...

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