The Kamiarizuki Playing Cards draw inspiration from the profound and mystical tales of Japanese mythology, stories where the divine quietly intersects with the human world. In Japanese lore, the lunar month of October (around Gregorian November) is a sacred time when all the gods of Japan gather at Izumo Grand Shrine. Everywhere else, this becomes Kami-Nashi-Zuki (神無月); the "Month Without Gods." But in Izumo, it is celebrated as Kami-Ari-Zuki (神在月); the "Month With Gods". A period of divine councils deciding matters of human bonds, love, and harvest.
At the heart of this convergence is the rabbit, revered in Izumo as a benevolent guide and messenger of en (縁,えん); fated connections. This stems from the ancient myth of The Hare of Inaba (因幡の白兎, Inaba no Shirousagi), where the deity Ōkuninushi’s act of kindness toward a wounded white hare was repaid with a prophecy of love and triumph.
By weaving together this divine assembly and the rabbit's role as a symbol of guidance and fate, we bring you a deck that embodies "forming connections." Each card is part of a larger visual story. One that reflects the sacred gathering, hidden blessings, and the gentle guidance of its messenger.
The hallowedness of the Jinja (神社) or Shinto Shrine is captured in the Light Up Saisen-Bako Tuck Box, a centerpiece of this edition. As you place the Saisen (賽銭) into the Box, the shrine lights up, signaling the reception of your wishes from the Shinto Deities.
These Number Cards capture the joyous assembly of hares as they herald the coming of the gods. Each card features a unique hare, celebrated in a moment of reverent anticipation. The number cards feature a transformation deck, where the pips elegantly evolve into rabbits. When fanned or laid in sequence, the cards reveal their true magic: Straight bars representing the strands of fate run through each card, connecting to form an endless, unbroken panorama, a visual testament to the divine bonds of en. This continuous connection can be fully appreciated when displayed as a beautiful uncut sheet.
In each edition, the Court Cards feature majestic portraits of the Shinto Gods, framed in all their divine glory in ceremonial garb. From the benevolent Ōkuninushi to the majestic Amaterasu, each deity embodies a chapter of the mythic gathering at Izumo. Like the number cards, they are woven together by the unbroken threads of fate. The sacred shimenawa rope continues through each court card, creating a seamless, endless panorama when fanned, visually uniting the divine council in a single, connected story.
The card back design is a masterful fusion of two potent motifs: the sacred shimenawa rope, representing the binding connection of en (fate), and the protective form of the omamori knot (御守結び), symbolizing the blessing and guidance offered by the divine. This hybrid design creates a "Knot of Fate" centered on each card, flanked by two omamori knots from the corners of the cards. When fanned or flipped, the deck performs its own magic. The intricate corner omamori knots appear to spin and whirl to life. This creates the mesmerizing illusion of an endless sacred bond connecting all. It brings to life the very essence of the Month of the Gods, where every shuffle becomes a ritual, and every deal is guided by the threads of divine connection.
For the Special Edition, the cards artworks will have glistening cold foil elements on part of the illustration details. The cards are gilded with shimmering sapphire blue foil.
