This is a quiz app that tests your knowledge of the traditional Japanese "Iroha Uta" poem by guessing the correct second half of each phrase.
The Iroha Karuta features the complete "Iroha song" which begins with the famous lines "Though fragrant blossoms scatter, this world shows its truth - today we cross the proverb's deep mountain, in shallow dreams or drunken slumber." This karuta game uses the 47 hiragana characters (plus the archaic "kyo" character) as the starting characters for traditional proverbs and phrases. Originating in Kyoto during the mid-Edo period, it spread to major cities like Osaka, Nagoya and Edo. Our quiz focuses on the Tokyo-style versions of these phrases.
How to Play
You'll be shown the first half of an Iroha Uta phrase - simply choose the correct matching second half from three possible options.
After each answer, you'll see whether you answered correctly or not, along with an explanation of the full phrase's meaning.
