Objective

The goal of Namiji is to have the highest score by the end of the game. Players score points by fishing, collecting offerings, setting traps, and observing marine life.

Setup

1. Game Board: Place the game board in the center. It features a series of action spaces laid out in a linear path.

2. Player Pieces: Each player selects a boat token and places it at the start of the board. Players also receive corresponding player boards and fishing nets.

3. Fishing Cards: Shuffle the fishing cards and place them in a deck near the board.

4. Panorama Cards: Separate the panorama cards by type and place them in their respective piles.

5. Offering Tokens: Place offering tokens in a pile near the board.

6. Trap and Shrine Tokens: Shuffle and place the trap and shrine tokens facedown on their respective spots.

7. Turn Order: Randomly determine the starting player.
   

Gameplay

1. Player Turns:

   • Players take turns moving their boat token forward to any unoccupied action space of their choice. The player whose boat is furthest back on the track takes the next turn.

2. Action Spaces:

   • Fishing: Draw fishing cards and add them to your boat. Completing sets of fish cards scores points.

   • Panorama: Draw the top card from a panorama pile, representing a beautiful view you encountered on your journey.

   • Offering: Place offering tokens on the board. Offering at different shrines earns you points based on the number and type of offerings.

   • Trap: Draw and place a trap token. Traps are used to catch valuable fish later in the game.

   • Shrine: Gain points by placing tokens at shrines.

3. Scoring Points:

   • Fishing Sets: Collecting complete sets of fish cards earns points based on the types of fish.

   • Panorama Completion: Completing a panorama by collecting all cards in a series gives bonus points.

   • Offerings: Points are earned by placing offerings at shrines.

   • Traps: Successfully trapping fish earns additional points.

4. End of the Game:

   • The game ends when all players have reached the final space on the board. Players calculate their final scores by adding points from fishing sets, panoramas, offerings, traps, and any other bonuses.

5. Winning the Game:

   • The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
     

Strategy Tips

1. Plan Ahead: Consider which action spaces you'll need in future turns. Move strategically to maximize your points.

2. Fish Collection: Focus on collecting complete sets of fish to maximize your score.

3. Balanced Play: Diversify your actions between fishing, offerings, panoramas, and traps to score consistently throughout the game.

4. Timing: Sometimes, it’s advantageous to delay moving to avoid giving your opponents a better choice of action spaces.
   

Expansions and Variants

Namiji might include expansions or rule variants that introduce new elements to the gameplay, such as additional action spaces or special rules for different scenarios. Be sure to check the game box or official rulebook for any additional content.