Release: Pre-WWII
Manufacturer: Marufuku Co. Ltd.
This extremely early Nintendo double-deck box dates from around 1900–1918, placing it among the oldest surviving examples of the company’s card production. The lid features the brand name 中将印 (Chūshō-in), one of Nintendo’s pre-standard trademarks used before the later and more familiar “Daitōryō / Napoleon” branding. The ornate Western-style lithography, stacked-coin motif, and Kyoto-address ribbon are all characteristic of Nintendo’s Meiji to early Taishō packaging.
The side label reads 虫花 (Mushibana), identifying this as a box for a regional 40-card hanafuda variant used in Osaka-style games such as Ōsaka Mushi. Mushibana decks omit the Peony and Bush Clover suits entirely and were produced in much smaller quantities than standard 48-card hanafuda. As a result, surviving mushibana sets – especially in a double box – are exceptionally uncommon.
Together, these features make the set a rare example of Nintendo’s early craftsmanship, long before their modern era, and a significant historical piece within the evolution of their playing-card business.