Karuta Event Fusing Culture, Competition, and Technology: "Read, Take, Play - Life's Flowing Moments - 12 Months on the Tatami"

The All Japan Karuta Association (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo), in collaboration with MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives (hereinafter, MoN Takanawa), will hold the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Karuta event "May: Read, Take, Play - Life's Flowing Moments - 12 Months on the Tatami" for two days on May 23rd (Saturday) and 24th (Sunday), 2026, at MoN Takanawa within TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY. Coinciding with "Hyakunin Isshu Day" on May 27th, this event will showcase "Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Competitive Karuta," a traditional culture and intellectual sport, offering a multifaceted experience through demonstrations by top players and VR experiences. *Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Karuta is not merely a traditional culture; it has gained international attention as "Competitive Karuta," requiring concentration and instantaneous power. However, opportunities for beginners to easily engage with it are limited. To widely convey its appeal, this event provides an opportunity for a wide range of people, from novices and beginners to enthusiasts and foreign visitors, to experience the charm of Karuta. This event is held as part of "Life's Flowing Moments - 12 Months on the Tatami," a monthly program celebrating the four seasons, developed by MoN Takanawa (※1), the venue. Utilizing a tatami space of approximately 100 tatami mats, it offers an experience that fuses tradition with cutting-edge technology. In addition to powerful competitive demonstrations by top players, large-screen presentations and real-time commentary will visualize the tactics and speed of competitive Karuta. Experiential programs enjoyable even for beginners are also prepared, making the content accessible to everyone. (※1) What is MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives? A complex museum built by JR East within TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY. It disseminates new Japanese culture through monthly programs that celebrate Japan's four seasons and traditional culture, such as "Life's Flowing Moments - 12 Months on the Tatami." "Life's Flowing Moments" serves as a platform where diverse people experience and connect culture to the future through experimental projects, set on a "Tatami" space of approximately 100 tatami mats. ■Event Outline■ 【Date】May 23rd (Sat) and 24th (Sun), 2026, 10:00-18:00 【Venue】MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives Tatami 【Organizer】MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives 【Co-organizers】All Japan Karuta Association, Chihayafuru Foundation 【Cooperation】Kurihara Lab, Tsuda University 【Performers】Masayoshi Kawase Meijin (68th, 69th, 70th, 72nd Meijin title holder), Keitaro Kumehara Hachidan (65th, 66th, 67th Meijin title holder) Nao Inoue Rokudan (68th Queen title holder), Tsubasa Tsubota Nanadan (59th, 60th Queen title holder, Eternal Selected Champion) 【Admission】Free admission *Some paid experiences available Please see the official website of MoN Takanawa for details. https://montakanawa.jp/programs/manimani_may2026/ 【Main Programs】 ■Competitive Karuta Special Stage Demonstrations / Experiential Workshops / Challenge the Meijin! ■Karuta Tournament to Play in a Circle Obosan Mekuri / Chirashidori ■Future Karuta (VR Experience) Experience the latest "Future Karuta" using VR technology, with the cooperation of Kurihara Lab at Tsuda University. Enjoy it intuitively even without prior knowledge. ◎All Japan Karuta Association Through competitive Karuta tournaments using Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, research and studies on Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, lectures, and workshops, the association strives to promote and develop Japanese culture. Established in 1954, it became an incorporated association in 1996 and a general incorporated association in 2014. 1F Naito Building, 4-39-12 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0012 TEL. 03-3943-3100 FAX. 03-3943-3101 Website: https://www.karuta.or.jp