Taisho Roman Tarot — 78-Card Deck with English Guidebook
Japan, one hundred years ago, in seventy-eight cards.
A tarot deck dressed in the Taisho era.
- Rider-Waite based
- Taisho-era Japan
- English booklet included
- Protect box included
What would tarot look like if it had grown up in Japan?
The Taisho era — the 1910s and 20s — was Japan's own roaring moment: Western coats over kimono, gas lamps, jazz drifting out of cafés. Taisho Roman Tarot rebuilds the full Rider-Waite deck inside that world, with the streets, landscapes and clothing of the period reproduced as faithfully as the card meanings themselves.
Three reasons readers choose this deck
A period piece, researched properly
The streetscapes, interiors and dress of Taisho Japan are recreated in detail, so the deck doubles as a window onto a turbulent, beautiful fifteen years of history.
Faithful to the original Rider version
Underneath the period costume, every card follows the Rider-Waite original — so any tarot guide you own reads this deck without adjustment.
English-translation booklet in the box
The included original booklet carries an English translation, so the deck is fully readable outside Japan from the day it arrives.
What comes in the box
Everything you need to read from day one.
| What's included | 78 tarot cards / original booklet with English translation / protect box |
|---|---|
| Cards | 78 (22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana) |
| System | Follows the original Rider version |
| Theme | Japan's Taisho era (1912-1926) |
| Booklet | Original booklet with English translation |
| Brand | Luna Factory original — designed and produced in Japan |
Reading takes three steps
Shuffle
Hold your question in mind while you shuffle the deck.
Draw
Pull as many cards as feel right. A single card is enough to begin.
Read
Look the card up in the English booklet, or in any Rider-Waite guide you already own.
If you are starting from zero
Five reasons "tarot looks difficult" does not apply hereRead more
- Any beginner's book worksThe deck follows the original Rider version, so the guides in your local bookshop apply as they are.
- The booklet is translatedAn English translation is included in the box, so nothing has to be searched for online.
- The setting does half the readingA story-rich world gives every card a scene, and scenes are easier to remember than abstract symbols.
- Start with a one-card drawNo spread to learn. One card answers the question in front of you.
- It grows with youBecause the structure is traditional, the deck still works once your reading gets more advanced.
The artwork
Gas lamps, hakama and sea wind — the symbols wear period dress.
Each card restages its Rider-Waite scene in Taisho Japan: the figures wear the era's mix of kimono and Western tailoring, and the backgrounds carry its streets and interiors. The attention to detail is the point — you can read the deck, or simply wander around in it.
— The day this deck was made —
We kept returning to one restless decade.
"Let's feel those turbulent fifteen years, right here and now."
The Taisho era was short and it burned bright: democracy movements, café culture, girls' magazines, the first radio broadcasts — tradition and modernity sharing the same narrow streets. That tension is exactly what tarot is about, which is why the transplant works so well. The Fool steps out in a student cap; the Empress presides in silk. One hundred years vanish between shuffle and draw.
From the makers
Taisho Roman Tarot is a Luna Factory original. The period detail is drawn as faithfully as the card meanings, so it can be read as a deck and kept as a small museum.
For days like these
- For readers who love Japanese history and aesthetics
- For a second deck with a world entirely its own
- As a gift for someone drawn to vintage Japan
— Seventy-eight cards, and the lamps are lit. —
Before you order
Frequently asked questions
Is the booklet in English?
Yes. The original booklet includes an English translation, alongside the Japanese.
Is this a full tarot deck?
Yes. 78 cards — 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana — following the original Rider version.
What is the Taisho era?
Japan's 1912-1926: a short, vivid period when Western modernity and Japanese tradition mixed in everyday life. The deck reproduces its streets, clothing and atmosphere in detail.
How long does delivery take?
Orders ship from Japan by EMS with tracking. Delivery times vary by country — please see our Shipping Policy for current estimates.
Can I use it with the tarot books I already own?
Yes. The cards follow the original Rider version, so standard guides apply without adjustment.
This deck suits you if
- You love Japanese history, fashion and design
- You want a Rider-Waite deck with a strong world of its own
- You collect illustrated decks
- You are buying a gift for a Japanophile reader
Often bought together
Shuffle, draw one card, and step into the Taisho streets.
Luna Factory is a Japanese studio making tarot and oracle decks for people who want divination to feel kind rather than daunting.
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