Collectible cards of middle-aged men go viral among children in a Japanese city

Children from Kawara, Japan, are learning to appreciate older people through a collectible card game where the stars are middle-aged men from the local community.

Seeking a way for the younger generation to connect with older members of the community, Eri Miyahara, secretary-general of the “Saidosho Community Center,” used the young people’s love for collectible card games like Pokémon to create a civic engagement game.

In an interview with Fuji News Network, she shared how she came up with the idea for the game: “We wanted to strengthen the connection between the children and the older generations in the community. There are so many incredible people here. I felt it was a shame that no one knew about them,” she said.

“Since the card game went viral, many children have started to admire these men as heroic figures,” she explained.

The game, called “Ojisan TCG,” features 47 different cards, 28 of which showcase local men with special attributes and skills, such as Mr. Honda, 74, a former fire chief, or Mr. Takeshita, 81, known as the “Soba Master,” who teaches the preparation of traditional noodles.

But the most popular of all is Mr. Fujii, 68, a former prison officer who became a community volunteer. His card is so sought after that local children have even started asking for his autograph.

“I was genuinely shocked when they asked me for an autograph,” Mr. Fujii said, laughing. “I never imagined I would become a collectible card, let alone have fans,” he added.

 

This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.