Namiji - A Board Game About a Fishing Journey Off the Coast of Japan

What Is Namiji, and Where Does the Journey Take Anglers?

Namiji is a board game about a fishing journey off the coast of Japan. Players take on the roles of Japanese anglers from a bygone era, catching fish, observing marine life, and making offerings to the sea deities. They sail south of the Japanese archipelago, not far from the famous Tokaido road. The game supports 1-5 players and takes around 30-45 minutes. To finish with the highest score, players must choose their stops carefully, bring in a good catch, and make the most of the opportunities along the sea route.

Designed by Antoine Bauza and illustrated by Naïade, Namiji is published by Stonemaier Games. It carries forward the leisurely travel experience familiar from Tokaido, moving it from Japanese roads to coastal waters. Instead of visiting towns and exploring landscapes on land, anglers encounter dolphins, octopuses, and whales, test their fishing luck, and discover the beauty of the ocean. Success depends not only on the catch but also on making the most of the journey itself.

What Discoveries Await Along the Way?

Namiji's sea route offers several ways to make the journey rewarding. Players catch colorful fish and place them on their personal boards, aiming to complete rows or columns with matching colors or shapes. Nets offer another way to fill their fishing racks, while traps in the shallows give them a chance to catch crustaceans. But greed can backfire: if a player draws two crabs in a single turn, the entire catch is lost.

Observing marine life is another important part of the voyage. Players gradually collect panorama cards featuring dolphins, octopuses, and whales, earning points with each new section. The first player to complete a panorama also receives a bonus.

Along the route, players encounter whirlpools where they send paper offerings out to sea to please the sea deities. Each offering reduces the penalty for offerings left on the player's board at the end of the game. Some whirlpool spaces can also provide an additional bonus. Even here, players must choose between immediate scoring opportunities and reducing their end-game penalty.

How Do You Choose Your Route, and What Role Does Automa Play?

In Namiji, turn order depends on the boats' positions along the shared route. The player whose boat is farthest behind takes the next turn. Players can skip intermediate spaces to reach a desired station, but doing so may allow rivals to take several turns in a row. Each move requires weighing the value of a chosen stop against the opportunities it leaves open for other anglers.

Docks also play an important role. Every boat must stop at each dock and wait for the others. A boat's position at the dock determines the order in which its player chooses a card, so arriving early can provide first pick of upgrades and bonuses. However, arriving later has an advantage too. Once the stop is over, the boat in the outermost position moves first and can claim a desirable space farther along the route.

For solo play, Namiji includes automatic opponents called Automa. In solo mode, one player competes against two Automas. In a two-player game, one Automa can be added as an alternative to the standard two-player rules.

Automa's actions are determined by special cards and priorities on its collection mat. Unlike human players, Automa does not collect cards and tokens in the same way. Instead, it scores points based on the stations it visits. This allows automated opponents to compete without having to reproduce every action a human player takes.

The difficulty can be adjusted, making solo voyages easier for newcomers or more challenging for experienced players.

Who Will Enjoy Namiji, and Where Can You Set Sail?

Namiji combines the atmosphere of Japan's coastline with set collection, route planning, and competition for the best stops. Players can observe marine life, look for rewarding combinations of fish, and decide when to move on. The game offers meaningful tactical choices while preserving the relaxed pace of a peaceful sea journey.

This maritime adventure is especially well suited to players who enjoy:

• Family game nights with an appealing theme and clear goals.
• Maritime journeys, fishing, and observing wildlife.
• Collecting sets, finding useful combinations, and completing personal objectives.
• Planning a route and keeping an eye on other anglers.
• Solo play and testing their decisions against automated opponents.

Namiji is already available on Tabletopia, where you can try your hand at being an angler off the coast of Japan. Try completing a full whale panorama, filling your fishing rack with colorful fish, and seeing how generous the shallows can be. Many stops still lie ahead, and the sea deities await their offerings. Perhaps yours will be the most fruitful fishing season of all.