also: めくりかるた
mekuri karuta; traditional Japanese card game
Refers to a specific historical card game using a deck of 48 (later 49) cards, especially popular in the late Edo period. The term can also denote the deck itself.
江戸時代には、めくりカルタが庶民の間で流行した。
In the Edo period, mekuri karuta was popular among common people.
博物館で当時のめくりカルタの札を見
Rarely used as a synonym for hanafuda (花札). This usage is uncommon and may be encountered only in older or specialized contexts.
See also: 花札
I saw cards from that era's mekuri karuta at the museum.
In some regions, hanafuda is sometimes called mekuri karuta.
Kanji spelling is rare; usually written in kana.
From めくり (turning over) + カルタ (cards, from Portuguese 'carta'). The name describes the action of flipping cards in the game.