MENKO Literally meaning "small object with a face" the game of menko has existed in Japan for over 250 years. Children play it by throwing a card against another in an effort to flip it or knock it out of a ring. Victory is based on who has knocked the most cards out at the end of the game.
The earliest figures depicted on menko pieces were ninjas and samurai; later fighter jets and tanks became popular. As outside influences were imposed on Japan, menko cards reflected Western culture from baseball to Mickey Mouse along with, of course, Japanese popular culture figures. Menko: Art of the Japanese Game Card colorfully documents the graphic history of this traditional pastime, which is still played today and was the inspiration for the wildly popular Pog. This is my latest addition to the growing titles from Mark Batty Publisher and is available now as a pre order and physically in june 2010.
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