Objective of the Game

Kanagawa is a board game where players act as art students studying under the master painter Hokusai at an art school. The goal is to create the most beautiful work of art by collecting cards and wisely arranging them in your studio and gallery. The game ends when all the cards are used up, and the player with the most points wins.

Components

• 1 Game Board
• 72 Painting Cards (48 Season Cards, 24 Equipment Cards)
• 19 Diploma Tiles
• 15 Lesson Tiles
• 11 Landscape Tiles
• 3 Apprentice Tiles
• 2 Bonus Hills
• 4 Player Aid Boards
• 1 Starting Player Figure (Brush)

Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table.
2. Shuffle the painting cards and place them face down as a draw pile next to the board.
3. Create two piles of diploma tiles based on the number of players, placing them face up next to the board.
4. Each player receives a studio board and a bonus hill.
5. The oldest player takes the brush and becomes the starting player.

Gameplay

The game is played over successive rounds, each consisting of two phases: Preparation and Work.

1. Preparation

Players draw cards from the draw pile and place them according to the line on the game board. The aim is to create rows of cards in the studio or the gallery.

• Cards are drawn and placed in rows and columns on the game board.
• The starting player decides how many cards are placed in each row, depending on the number of players.

2. Work

Each player, starting with the starting player, decides whether to take the cards in their column and work with them or wait for more cards.

Work Options

• Expand Your Studio: Place the card at the top of the studio to learn new lessons. These offer new tools or techniques that can be used in the future.
• Expand Your Gallery: Place the card at the bottom to continue the artwork.

A player may choose a column once a new row of cards is placed on the game board.

Tiles & Rewards

• Diplomas: Don’t miss the opportunity to acquire diplomas to win the game. Diplomas give points based on fulfilling certain conditions.
• Landscapes, Animals, Trees, and Buildings collected during the game also give points.

End of the Game and Scoring

The game ends once no more cards can be drawn. Then all players count their points through:

• Completed Paintings in their gallery
• Diplomas
• Bonus conditions fulfilled
• Specific sets or combinations

The player with the most points wins the game.

Tips

• Pay attention to the diploma tiles and the conditions for them, as they can tip the balance in your favor.
• Plan ahead based on the available equipment cards in your studio.
• Observe the strategies of other players and adjust accordingly.

Enjoy playing Kanagawa and let your creativity run free in the art of Japanese painting!