🎴 depicts a set of Hanafuda (花札) cards, which are traditional Japanese playing cards. The name "Hanafuda" literally means "flower cards," as the decks are typically adorned with illustrations of flowers, plants, and animals representing the twelve months of the year.

This emoji is primarily used to represent Japanese culture, traditional games, or card games in general. It can evoke a sense of tradition, artistry, and leisure.

It is often associated with games like Koi-Koi or Hachi-Hachi, popular in Japan and among Japanese communities worldwide.