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Ukiyoe Tarot (Japan)      1982 Koji Furuta      Japan                                                   Art Medium: Description: Created in imitation of traditional Japanese woodblock (Ukiyoe) style from the Tokagawa period of Japanese history (17th and 18th centuries). The Ukiyoe, seemingly the most Japanese of tarots was actually conceived by Stuart Kaplan, the American tarot publisher who has a deep interest in, and knowledge of Japanese art. He asked a number of artists to design a deck in imitation of the traditional Japanese woodblock style from the Tokagawa period (17th and 18th centuries). Unfortunately, he was not happy with any of the designs and after some time got into discussion with the Angel Playing Card Manufacturing Co in Japan, who eventually commissioned Koji Furuta to create the paintings for his cards. Kaplan was actively involved in the designs, which were finally printed in Japan in 1982. They were extensively distributed in the USA and Europe under the U.S. Games Systems’ imprint. The same printing was issued in Japan and the USA but in different packagings. Japanese edition was in a solid box with cardboard sleeve.