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For the past few days, I have been rumbling on an on about Yakuza 3 and Yakuza 4, so for Today’s Japan Photo series, we shall take a look at one of Japan’s traditional gambling game – Cho-Han Bakuchi 丁半博打.

This photo was taken off kotoripiyopiyo.com, and it looks like one of those scenes in a Yakuza movie. Here’s the description of the game:

Cho-Han Bakuchi 丁半博打 is a traditional Japanese gambling game using dice.

The game uses two standard six-sided dice, which are shaken in a bamboo cup or bowl by a dealer. The cup is then overturned onto the floor. Players then place their wagers on whether the sum total of numbers showing on the two dice will be “Chō” (even) or “Han” (odd). The dealer then removes the cup, displaying the dice. The winners collect their money.

Depending on the situation, the dealer will sometimes act as the house, collecting all losing bets. But more often, the players will bet against each other (this requires an equal number of players betting on odd and even) and the house will collect a set percentage of winning bets.

The game was a mainstay of the bakuto, itinerant gamblers in old Japan, and is still played by the modern yakuza. In a traditional Chou-Han setting, players sit on a tatami floor. The dealer sits in the formal seiza position and is often shirtless (to prevent accusations of cheating), exposing his elaborate tattoos.

Many Japanese films, especially chambara and yakuza movies, feature Chō-Han scenes. It is also a playable minigame in most of the Japanese video-games in the Ryū ga Gotoku (Yakuza) series.