Hanawase Rules
Detailed rules for Hanawase. 15 completed yaku and special rules (Fuke, Ameshima-Nagashi) explained.
Overview
What is Hanawase?
Hanawase (Flower Matching) is a traditional hanafuda game for basically 3 players (3 to 7 possible with the "enter/retire" system). Unlike Koi-Koi, there is no "koi-koi" declaration — after all hand cards are played, scoring is based on completed yaku and captured card values. There is no retire fee or chase-out fee.
Setup
Card Point Values
Game Flow
Play a Card from Hand
Compare your hand with the field cards. If there is a card from the same month, match and capture both. If no match, discard one card from your hand to the field.
Draw from the Pile
Draw the top card from the pile. If there is a same-month card on the field, match and capture both. If no match, place it on the field.
Repeat Until Done
Play proceeds counterclockwise from the dealer. Continue until all players' hand cards are played. There is no koi-koi declaration.
Settlement
Calculate scores in order: completed yaku settlement → captured card settlement.
Matching Rules
You may choose to discard a non-matching card even when you have a match available. However, if you play a matching card, you must capture it. Likewise, if a drawn card matches a field card, you must capture it. Captured cards are displayed face-up in front of you for all to see.
Completed Yaku (15 types)
Bright Yaku
Five Brights (Goko)
All 5 bright cards
Four Brights (Shiko)
4 brights excl. Willow (Ono no Michikaze)
Rainy Four Brights
4 brights incl. Willow (Ono no Michikaze)
Omote-Sugawara (Three Brights)
Pine Crane + Plum Warbler + Cherry Curtain
Matsu-Kiri-Bozu
Pine Crane + Pampas Moon + Paulownia Phoenix
Ribbon Yaku
Seven Ribbons (Nanatan)
7 ribbons (excl. Willow ribbon)
Blue Ribbons (Aotan)
3 blue ribbons (Peony, Chrysanthemum, Maple)
Poetry Ribbons (Akatan/Urasu)
3 red poetry ribbons (Pine, Plum, Cherry)
Six Ribbons (Rokutan)
6 ribbons (excl. Willow ribbon)
Kusa (Grass Ribbons)
Wisteria, Iris, and Bush Clover ribbons
Six Ribbons Overlap Rule
Six Ribbons can overlap with Blue Ribbons, Poetry Ribbons, and Kusa, but cannot overlap with Seven Ribbons.
Other Yaku
Boar-Deer-Butterfly
Peony Butterfly + Bush Clover Boar + Maple Deer
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Cherry Curtain + Sake Cup
Moon Viewing
Pampas Moon + Sake Cup
Fujishima
All 4 Wisteria cards
Kirishima
All 4 Paulownia cards
Special Yaku & Special Rules
Oyanaka Hacchou Biki Jucchou
After all cards are matched: dealer/2nd player ≤8 captured cards, or 3rd player ≤10 captured cards
Oyanaka Hacchou
"Naka" refers to the second player (dōni). Multiple players can claim this simultaneously.
Fuke (Void Round)
After all cards are matched, if any player's total captured card points are 20 or less, that month is a void round. Even if hand yaku were declared and settled, the yaku payments are returned. A void round still counts as one round.
Ameshima-Nagashi (Rain Void)
When Ameshima (all 4 Willow cards) is completed, instead of scoring it normally, all completed yaku for that month are voided. Only the card-point settlement is performed.
Scoring
In Hanawase settlement, the sum of all players' plus and minus always equals 0.
Completed Yaku Settlement
A player who completes a yaku collects those points from each of the other 2 players. For example, Five Brights (100 pts): receive 100 from each opponent (200 total).
Captured Card Settlement
Calculate each player's captured card total (Bright×20 + Animal×10 + Ribbon×5 + Plain×1). Subtract the baseline (264 ÷ 3 = 88 pts). The difference is the player's score. Minus players pay their deficit, and plus players receive their surplus.
Settlement Example (3 Players)
Card totals: A=100, B=90, C=74
A: 100 − 88 = +12 pts
B: 90 − 88 = +2 pts
C: 74 − 88 = −14 pts
Total: 12 + 2 + (−14) = 0
End of Game
The above constitutes one month (1 round). The winner becomes the new dealer, and play continues for an agreed number of rounds (typically a full year = 12 rounds). The final winner is determined by cumulative score.