Game of One Hundred Candles

The Game of One Hundred Candles, or simply “The Game”, was originated in lengthy court gatherings as a way to stave off boredom, to entertain and as a sort of test of courage for the participants. It became popular among heimin through the servants and attendants of courtiers, and it was played during festivals and village ceremonies, and was a staple in the Floating World of the geisha.

Mechanics
One hundred andon (little candles) were set in a room with a polished surface, such as a mirror. An adjoining room separated guests from the andon but let the light through. In a room storytellers gathered and recited their tales. After each story, the teller put out a candle and looked into the polished surface. A new tale was begun and the process continued as the light dwindled and the terror rose. It was said that if the last candle was put out, the spirits of all the tales wouldrise up out of the mirror to haunt the world, because to finish was to invite the listening spirits into Ningen-do.