Menko
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Menko (めんこ, 面子) is a Japanese card game played by two or more players and also is a name of cards used to play this game. Each player uses menko cards made from a thick paper or a cardboard with one or both side printed with images from anime, manga, etc. A card of a player is placed on the hardwood or concrete floor and another player throw down his card and try to flip other players' cards by the gust of wind or striking his card against them. The player who takes all of opponents card or one with most cards win the game.
Popular from Edo period, its quick and simple rules made them popular to children of all age groups. Because techniques were about as important as the power, smaller kids had a fair chance of winning. Pictures on these cards reflect the popular culture of that time and their changes are an important informations from the past. In the Edo period and the early Meiji period, images like ninja and samurai were popular. Before World War II, popular images were those of military, like fighter planes and battleships. After the war, characters from anime and manga were popular. In the late 1980s to early 1990s, these images were decorated with holography and sparkles.
Optional Rules
- Players may glue two or more cards to make them thicker and heavier. This make turning them over more difficult.
- The player whose card are under opponent's card may choose to flip his or her card from that position to try to flip opponent's cards.
- Players may divide into groups and play.
- Cards made from other materials, like plastic may be used.
Menko
- Pronunciation: men-koe
- Function: concrete noun, adjective
- Etymology: To be or to pertain to properties of mental instability. Originated as a result of recent coining from the adjective mental.
- Usage:Menko used as a term of abuse used on internet messageboards, notably at Embrace.co.uk (http://www.embrace.co.uk/forums).
- The meaning of the term is rather unknown but is generally understood that it is not advisable to be MENKO.
- It can be used in a sentence like this: Nick is a MENKO
N.B.
- However, the name Menko, is also used to call my intelligent and cheerful husband who lives in The Netherlands.