The Meechelin Konbini Food Guide Playing Cards

Hong Kong-based designer and cat lover Mijiko has created excellent yet cute decks throughout her career. She incorporated adorable cats into Japanese cultural elements, giving it a distinct theme. Now, she is back on Kickstarter with a very cute deck, the Meechelin Food Guide Playing Cards.

Inspired by the Michelin Star, the deck combines the prestigous food award with the hidden gems of Japanese life, convenient stores (Konbini). Japanese convenience stores have a variety of delicious foods, and many locals and tourists make a pit stop to the stores to get and taste the foods. Mijiko being a cat lover, she infused the cute cats to interact with the delicious foods.

The excellent tuck box is made with premium stock with 3D embossed illustration along with shiny gold metallic foil along the borders. On the back of the tuck, there is a deck title accompanied by a charming cat chef. Meanwhile, the front features the shiny gold medal – the Meechelin Gold medal award, which will be embossed and foiled. The interior of the box features a comic illustration of a convenient store in vintage color scheme.

Inside, the back design of the cards features an Art Deco style adorned with copper foil gourmet graphics. In the center, there’s the iconic Meechelin medal done in UV varnish. The cards will be gilded in spectacular fireworks sparkling foil.

The Court cards feature the “Best 12 Neko Foodies in Japanese Convenient Stores”. It is a double-way illustration of the delicious food, with the center has a banner which mentioned the name of the food. The Number Cards features a mix of two elements: a unique food menu along with the rules and manners of Japanese convenience stores. The Jokers feature an identical illustration of a trophy with the cat drawn based on the Michelin mascot.

The Pips are customized, featuring the pip with a small graphic inside. Each suit features one of the four prominent convenient stores that can be found in Japan: 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson and Mini Stop. Mijiko did a spin towards these stores. Ever Aces features a special illustration of power pips, showing a cat in the store’s uniform along with the remarks of the store.

The deck will be printed by WJPC on premium card stock with a linen texture finish. Pledge starts from $20 for a single deck on Kickstarter.