Created by David Boyd, Oni Playing Cards are inspired by the tales of legendary warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his four guardian kings found in the Otogizoshi and Noh theater. The deck features twisted demons, ogres, and tricksters of Japanese mythology.
I was inspired to create Oni after visiting the Shofuso Tea House in Fairmount Park. While reading up on the Jizo statue there, I stumbled across the legends of the Oni. I was instantly hooked. After absorbing everything i could get my hands on, doing a deck of cards centered around these powerful mythical beings seemed like a no-brainer.
The courts are hand-illustrated and carries an accompanying story, heavily inspired by Otogizoshi and the tale of the legendary warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu. The typical French suits have been altered with unique, Japanese-theme pips.
Oni will be printed on linen USPCC stock and are available now on Kickstarter from $15.
