The Botan Tarot Deck - watercolour tarot with Japanese flower language
Not every tarot deck carries this much family history. Addi Miyako drew these cards at her grandmother's kitchen table, with stories from her childhood and the Japanese language of flowers as her starting point.
Botan means peony. In Japanese culture that flower stands for courage, honour and nobility. Miyako uses it throughout the deck, together with dozens of other plants, each carrying its own symbolism.
What you see on the cards
The style is watercolour with flowing Art Nouveau lines. The colours are soft, the compositions light and playful. Each card has an indigo blue border that frames the illustrations.
The Major Arcana focuses on modern aesthetics and family traditions. The Minor Arcana draws more heavily on Japanese folktales: animals, plants, seasons. Each element carries meaning beyond the image itself.
The cards are printed on sturdy 350 gsm cardstock. They shuffle smoothly and hold their shape after use. The packaging is sleek and compact, without drawer or ribbon.
How you work with it
The deck comes with a full-colour guidebook that describes the symbolism of each card. The texts are clear and accessible. You can start working with it right away, even if you have little experience with tarot.
Miyako combines traditional tarot structure with her own cultural background. That makes the deck suitable for classic spreads, but also for readings where you go deeper into flowers, seasons or stories from nature.
When you draw a card, pay attention not only to the human figures but also to the plants. In the Japanese language of flowers they often tell the hidden story of the card.
About Addi Miyako
Addi Miyako is an illustrator who brings together her Japanese heritage and Western art forms in her work. The Botan Tarot arose from memories of her grandmother and the stories she told.
Miyako draws with watercolour and loves the combination of botanical precision and free, organic lines. You see that in every card.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
- Card size: standard tarot format
- Cardstock: 350 gsm
- Finish: indigo blue borders
- Guidebook: full-colour booklet with card meanings
- Language: English
- Style: watercolour with Art Nouveau influences
- Theme: Japanese flower language, folklore and botanical symbolism
- Illustrator: Addi Miyako
Questions we often get
Do I need to know the Japanese language of flowers to use this deck?
No. The guidebook explains for each card which flowers and plants appear in it and what they mean. You learn as you go.
How does the Major Arcana differ from the Minor Arcana in this deck?
The Major Arcana focuses more on modern imagery and family traditions. The Minor Arcana draws more deeply from Japanese folktales, with much attention to animals, plants and seasons.
