If there is a passion that will never fade here in Europe, it is the passion for the Land of the Rising Sun: the charm of countries so far away from us is absolutely undeniable, with old traditions, habits and customs that are so different from ours, and ways of thinking that sometimes leave us perplexed and curious.
Japan, in the world of board games, has always been in our hearts: games like Rising Sun, Bitoku, Tokaido or Yokohama take this wonderful country and try to represent it for what it was, or it is, from an “Euro-game” or “American-game” point of view. Moreover, let’s face it, the “Jappo” graphics, delicate and simple, are something irresistible, and having them in your hands in the form of cards, meeples or miniatures is a gaming pleasure not to be underestimated.
We should also note that this passion in Japan is equal and bidirectional towards us; let’s just think, for example, of Amalfi, created by Mr. Takeo Yamada, the boardgame that retraces the Italian Renaissance era. As someone said, distance increases passion: it’s actually true.
And here we are that Sorry We Are French publisher comes out with a beautiful Japanese-themed title, set right in the beating heart of Tokyo which, at the time, was called Edo: Iki.
A three-letter word that expresses a lifestyle based on the balance between external beauty and internal depth, a concept that would require an entire encyclopedia to translate into any European language (except perhaps German, where they have a word for everything…).
Being able to synthesize a lifestyle in three letters is something profoundly oriental, but translating the commercial bustle of the city of Edo into a management game is something very Euro… game. On the other hand, this title tries to retrace that idea of balance that Iki recalls: trade yes, but without too much speculation. Money yes, but without too much accumulation. Work yes, but with the right degree of prestige. Iki is the score that will be needed to win, but the publisher here sees it not so much as the result, of a compulsive accumulation of resources, or of buildings that are worth more than others or of the “capitalistic” effort to maximize profit, but as the ability to not tip the scales too much to one side or the other. Iki, precisely.
In such a pastel-colored game for players who seek harmony, disorder is something absolutely aberrant.
Thus, to juggle cards, tokens and meeples, here it comes our setupper for Iki, because excellence in balance is not just playing in harmony, but also setting up, and reboxing, with the right order and the right gestures. Card holders, token holders and boxes for dedicated player sets will be the ideal setting for your trip to Tokyo, to reach levels of deep spirituality like true pros.
If you are looking for balance, Iki is for you. If you are looking for order, we at The Dicetroyers are here for you. Arigatō, soshite sayōnara!
Discover also the other games in our catalog and contact us for any request or question!
