shimo-no-ku karuta; Hokkaido variant of utagaruta
A regional card game from Hokkaido based on the second half of waka poems. The name literally means 'lower-phrase karuta'. Compare with standard 歌ガルタ (utagaruta), which uses the full poem.
See also: 下の句
In Hokkaido, shimo-no-ku karuta is enjoyed as a winter tradition.
Standard mixed kanji-kana spelling for this Hokkaido card game.
Variant with カルタ in katakana; equally valid.
Compound of 下の句 (shimo-no-ku, 'lower phrase of a waka') and カルタ (karuta, from Portuguese 'carta'). The name describes the game's use of only the second half of waka poems.