In the small town of Kawara in Japan, something unexpected is happening. While most kids in Japan are obsessed with Pokémon cards, the children of Kawara are clutching something a little closer to home. They’re playing a trading card game where the stars aren’t fantasy creatures, anime heroes, or even famous baseball players. Their stars are middle-aged or older men — Ojisan — from the local community. There are 47 different cards in the Ojisan Trading Card collection, including 28 featuring local men with stats and special abilities. There’s the Firewall card, which features Mr. Honda (74), a former fire brigade chief who helped keep the town safe for decades. Then there’s Soba Master Mr. Takeshita (81), who runs a local soba noodle-making class and now holds legendary status among the town’s youth. The most popular card is All-Rounder Mr. Fujii (68), a former prison officer turned community volunteer. His card is so sought after that local kids have even started asking him for autographs. Eri Miyahara, the creator of the game, said he wanted to strengthen the connection between the children and the older generation in the community. The plan worked and kids have started attending local events and volunteering for community activities, just for the chance to meet the men from their cards. While the cards — all made entirely by hand — are currently in high demand and often out of stock, they are only available for sale at the Saidosho Community Center. A pack of three cards costs ¥100 (68¢), while a pack of six cards — including a shiny card — costs ¥500 ($3.44). Despite the limited supply, demand remains high, with many kids saving their pocket money for a chance to score a shiny version of their favorite Ojisan.
