KUMO Hogosha

About this board game

KUMO Hogosha is a strategic 2–4 player board game with a 30-minute play time, first released in 2015. Take the role of a Kumotori warrior and compete to become a Guardian of the Clouds.

At the heart of the Rotating Arena of the Four Winds lies the Stone of Balance. Your objective is clear: move the Stone of Balance outside the arena and into your opponent’s camp before they can do the same.

Each active Kumotori can choose from several actions, creating a contest of positioning, timing, and tactical disruption. You may grab or throw another Kumotori one tile vertically or horizontally, whether that warrior is an ally or an opponent. You can also run to a neighboring tile or jump over one or more neighboring Kumotori and/or the Stone of Balance to reach the next free tile.

• Grabbing and throwing: Shift another Kumotori one tile in a straight direction.
• Running and jumping: Reposition normally or leap over nearby Kumotori and the Stone of Balance.
• Blocking: Sit on a neighboring opponent to prevent them from acting temporarily.
• Kumo: Move the Stone of Balance one tile when two Kumotori with their Kumo drawing face up stand next to each other and next to the Stone.

Blocking brings its own restrictions: a Kumotori cannot be blocked while occupying any of the eight tiles surrounding the Stone of Balance. In the following round, the player who is blocking must perform an action to release the opponent and move to a neighboring tile.

With its shifting arena, direct interaction, and focused victory condition, KUMO Hogosha challenges players to master movement while creating the right opening for the decisive Kumo action.