10 Oct Dice Games of Japan

While not being known for casinos, gambling is a popular pastime in Japan. It was always a massive part of Japanese culture. The first reference to gambling can be dated back to the eighth century in the book called “Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan)”. It states that in 685 AD, Emperor Temmu was fond of playing a dice game quite similar to backgammon as his favourite pastime.

It might surprise you to know that dice are thousands of years old. These simple 6-sided cubes date back to the ancient Greeks, with some historians claiming that they were first created during the siege of Troy. While we don’t know the exact date when dice were made, we do know that for thousands of years they have been used throughout societies. As the world of gaming has evolved over the years, dice have changed too. But two dice games have weathered the test of time and continue to be the most popular gambling games in Japan.

Cho-Han Bakuchi

Cho-Han Bakuchi or Cho-Han is a traditional Japanese gambling game. The game is remarkably simple with the dealer having to use only two standard six-sided dice and a bamboo cup/bowl to roll the dice. The dice are in the cup/bowl and placed face down, covering the result from everyone. At this moment, players are placing their bets on the ground, either for Cho (Evens) or Han (Odds). The dealer removes the cup to show the result, and the winners receive their payouts. While this was supposed to have started as a drinking game, Cho-Han emerged as a gambling game that could be associated with the formidable Yakuza of Japan. The game was a staple of the bakuto, itinerant gamblers in ancient Japan, and the modern yakuza still plays it. Players sit on a tatami floor in a traditional Chou-Han environment. The dealer sits in the conventional seiza pose and is sometimes shirtless (to avoid cheating accusations), revealing his intricate tattoos. Depending on the rules, the dealer serves as the House collecting and distributing the money while taking a percentage. Or, the money is split between the winners. The game has a deep history of Japanese culture and can be seen in many comics, movies, video games, and Japanese dramas, including popular anime such as Samurai Champloo and Gintama.

Kitsune Bakuchi

Kitsune Bakuchi is a Japanese dice game where a player attempts to roll three dice on them with the same number. If the player wins, he wins four times the wagered amount. The term means “fox gambling”, literally. For 216 total possible throws, six winning throws are possible, so the winning chance is 6/216 = 1/36. So, fair Kitsune Bakuchi (zero house edge) gives 36 times the bet of the winning player.