Bossa, a simple yet elegant game of tactics with a little luck, for 2. Imbued with Japanese craftsmanship
– THE ART edition “yuki (雪)” – CLASSIC-neo edition
Two new snow-inspired editions handmade by highly skilled Japanese paper craft artisans. We are currently preparing a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Our pre-launch page on Kickstarter (→ here) is now available in advance of the launch of the Bossa crowdfunding campaign in late January. Please support us by clicking “Receive Launch Notification” on this page!
Updating the project reports on Banana Moon Games website
Project reports are available on the Banana Moon Games website [Bossa 2023 New Version] page. We are constantly updating the progress of the project, including the development process and preparation for the crowdfunding campaign. Please check it out!
Hello, this is Hiroshi MAEDA, Bossa Team Leader. We would like to thank the many backers of our previous Kickstarter campaign for their support. Today, we have an announcement.
:::
Snow-inspired versions of Bossa are coming!
:::
Our team is currently working on two new variants of Bossa. Our base, Sapporo, is located in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island, and is a city that gets a lot of snow. In fact, it is covered with snow for long months from December to April.
Living in such a place, we know that snow is not only white. Snow changes its color and expression from moment to moment. The color in the morning, in the afternoon, at dusk, at night, on a sunny day, on a cloudy day, and reflection and shadow… So we wanted to create a beautiful Bossa version inspired by snow.
:::
:::
Yesterday, I took a short video of the early design prototype making. Please watch it! https://youtu.be/I6rEjpAM8D0
:::
We would like to participate in the “make/100” Kickstarter event as one of the projects to launch in mid or late January. The pre-launch page is not ready yet. We will let you know as soon as it is ready.
Exhibiting two booths, “Banana Moon” and “Bossa” at Tokyo Game Market 2022 Autumn. Finally, the restrictions on entry into Japan have been eased! We welcome board game fans from outside Japan and look forward to seeing you there.
Tokyo Game Market 2022 Autumn October 29 (Sat.) and 30 (Sun.), 2022 Tokyo Big Sight, East Exhibition Hall 1,2,3
:::
Banana Moon Booth [Booth No.: FU-10, East Hall]
We will exhibit a new title “Pipo” and various other games. English instructions are available.
• Pipo – The Innocent Aliens • Bistro FLIP • Gingham Coco • Go Go Jenny • Dobutsu no Oshiri Cards (Animal’s butt cards) • BABA the Mahjongish • BABA Cards
:::
Bossa #坊茶 Booth [Booth No.: NE-01, East Hall]
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the artisan-made higher versions are finally available in Japan!
• Bossa STANDARD edition • Bossa CLASSIC edition • Bossa THE ART edition “mizu” • Bossa THE ART edition “hana”
Hello everyone! Thank you for your support. Previously, I have mainly posted about the product, but today I would like to write a “personal opinion” about the features of the game.
However, I do not intend to write about how to make strategies or tips of the game. I don’t want to deprive you of the “fun” of discovering them. For more information about the rules, please refer to the instruction video and the instruction PDFs <Advanced Rules> <Basic Rules>.
:::
Conclusion: Bossa can be played over and over again and never gets boring.
Yes, that’s it in a nutshell. When the first idea for this game came up in a team meeting, everyone on the team was excited. “This is awesome, this is innovative!” After about six months of brushing up the rules and test-playing, we finally completed two sets of rules. One is the “A” rule (Advanced rules), which is recommended for gamers with lots of things to think about, and the other is the “B” rule (Basic rules), which are exciting for speedy game development and can be easily enjoyed by beginners.
:::
“A” Advanced rules: game in play
:::
The differences between “A” and “B” rules are the presence or absence of “own/opponent color lines,” restrictions on tile placement, and victory conditions. The rules are only slightly different, and comparing the pictures above and below, they may look almost the same to you. But when you actually play the game, it may seem like a completely different game in terms of points to think about and action cards to use.
:::
“B” Basic rules: game in play
:::
So, why is it that we can play it over and over again and never get bored? I would like to list some of my own points.
:::
Language-independent fun
Simple design of both rules and components
Innovative interpretation of black and white pips
Tiles that can be combined and added together
Aha experience with discoveries in the field and the hand
:::
Language-independent, dot tiles and their usage
:::
The stage of the game changes every time.
Starting point changes every game based on the roll of the dice
Hand changes every game
There are no set winning procedures or routines.
:::
Starting with White 4 and Black 6Starting with Black 2 and White 5
:::
Requires both strategy and luck
You can’t win by luck alone.
Whether you take the color line or make the first move, that’s where strategy begins (Advanced rules).
Which tile combination to use now for one or two moves ahead
Use three types of actions at the most effective times
Calculating probability – how many tiles of the desired number are left
Luck of the draw is also necessary
:::
Actions that require tactical use: (1) Redraw(2) Exchange(3) Stack
:::
Short play time
5 to 10 minutes per game
Enjoyable even during short breaks
Fun even in a set-match system
:::
Although not specified in the instruction sheets (rulebooks), we often use our own set-match tournament rules, which consists of two games under “A” rules plus two games under “B” rules as one set. We hope you will find your own way to enjoy Bossa!
:::
Draw White 3 to win! How many of the tiles you want are left?Have a good match!
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you again for your support of our project. We hope that Bossa will become a part of your wonderful collection and that you will enjoy the game for many years to come.
前田弘志（Bossaチームリーダー）
:::
How to play Bossa [Advanced rules]
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
Hello to all backers. I am Hiroshi Maeda, team leader. Today, I would like to share with you the advantages of the STANDARD edition.
I have all versions of Bossa. Well, of course. I have THE ART edition in my office, and when I have guests over, I entertain them with it. I have the CLASSIC edition at home. We live with a couple and have no small children, so this simple, slightly higher quality version fits us just fine. But what I want to emphasize today is that I always have a STANDARD edition in my bag!
:::
Compact and casual
The STANDARD edition is the most compact of Bossa’s four versions. First and foremost is the size of the box. It is only 3.4(w)x3.4(h)x1.1(d)inches / 87(w)x87(h)x28(d)mm. A bag can easily fit in it! It will even fit in a jacket pocket (though it might be a bit dorky). In other words, easy to carry! You can take Bossa with you wherever you go.
:::
STANDARD edition packaging
:::
Play at different places!
The dot tiles and action markers are also smaller than in other versions, so STANDARD edition can be played in smaller spaces. For example, on a table in a cafeteria during lunch or break time, or on a counter in a bar or pub after work. Play time is short, only 5 to 10 minutes per game, so it can be enjoyed casually.
:::
On a table in the cafeteria during break timeOn the bar counter after work
:::
Easier to handle
Although not designed for heavy-duty use, the STANDARD edition will be easier to handle than the uncoated CLASSIC edition or THE ART edition made of superior materials. This is just my personal opinion. The face side of the STANDARD edition dot tiles are finished with a gloss-coated layer and the back side with a matt-coated layer. It has a chip-ball core and is offset printed on the surface paper with special spot color inks.
STANDARD edition dot tiles, action markers and boxes are manufactured by a specialist board game manufacturer in Japan. The company, located in Nagoya, Japan, is well known among Japanese game creators for its quality products. We also trust their technology and quality and have outsourced the production of game components for several titles.
*BGM Morikawa-paper (https://boardgamemill.jp), a specialist board game manufacturer in Nagoya, Japan.
:::
BGM Morikawa-paper’s factory
:::
Now, why don’t you go out with Bossa?
Adding the STANDARD edition to THE ART edition and CLASSIC edition, which will become your precious collection, will make Bossa more mobile.
:::
From left to right: STANDARD, CLASSIC, THE ART “mizu”, THE ART “hana”
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you again for your support of our project. I hope each Bossa version will become your favorite!
Hiroshi Maeda, team leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
CLASSIC edition is a version of Bossa characterized by its natural look and feel. Today, I would like to share with you in detail our thoughts on CLASSIC edition and our choice of materials.
The concept of “hare” and “ke” is alive and well in our Japanese life. The word “hare” means “extraordinary” in the truest sense of the word. For example, clothes worn on special occasions such as weddings and graduation ceremonies are called “hare-gi,” and their stages are called “hare no butai”. So, Bossa’s THE ART edition may be “Bossa for hare”.
On the other hand, “ke” represents “everyday” things. Traditionally in Japan, living close to nature in the four seasons and being simple and modest have been the virtues of “ke”. We wanted to have a Bossa at hand that would enrich our daily lives, that would be simple and modest but of high quality, and made of natural materials as much as possible. Yes, the concept of the CLASSIC edition is to make “ke” even more pleasant.
:::
Leaves are swaying in the breeze, casting light and shadow on the Bossa CLASSIC.
:::
Paper tiles with a gentle touch
The CLASSIC edition dot tiles feel very gentle to the touch. There are two reasons for this. One is the use of Japanese dyed paper, which has a natural texture and smooth feel. The other is that the surface of the paper is neither “printed” nor coated with a base color. The color of both the face side and the back side of the tile is the color of the paper itself, dyed. Because there is no layer of ink or coating on the surface, the original texture of the paper can be directly touched. The foil-stamping and additionally pressed dots are slightly indented, which is also pleasant to the touch.
:::
CLASSIC edition tile close-up
:::
Handcrafted by Japanese artisans
Looking at the cross section of a CLASSIC edition tile, you will notice that there is no card board or chipboard core as in typical paper tiles or chips. It is a two-layer structure consisting of a thick gray paper on the face side and a thick black paper on the back side (strictly speaking, it is composed of more layers, since each thick paper itself has multiple layers). They are dyed papers, so even the cross section shows beautiful colors.
Let us show you the proof that each one is handmade by skilled Japanese artisans. Please take a look at the photo below. You can see that the angle between the surface and the cross section of the tile is not sharp not only on the face side but also on the back side. In general machine production, the face side is rounded and the back side is sharp. Naturally, artisan-made tiles have a gentler feel to the touch.
* CLASSIC edition tiles are handmade at Shichisei Sangyo, a paper craft artisan company in Sapporo, Japan.
:::
CLASSIC edition tiles cross section close-up
:::
Tiles that “breathe” with natural materials
Made of natural materials and uncoated to feel natural to the touch, CLASSIC edition tiles seem to “breathe” air just like we do. If you look closely, you may notice slight warping depending on conditions such as temperature and humidity. For example, can you see it in the photo above? It is so slight that you may not notice it, and it is not enough to interfere with your game. We are pleased if you understand that this is also a proof of natural materials.
:::
Bossa CLASSIC edition retractable box
:::
The retractable box is made of paper and is surprisingly elaborate
The CLASSIC edition box is retractable. It opens smoothly, closes pleasantly with a natural feeling, and holds. However, this paper box uses no metal fittings or plastic parts. This was made possible by the elaborate paper processing technology of a Japanese box specialist. The “V-cut” technique, in which a V-shaped incision is made during processing, creates precise angles and surfaces to achieve strength and precise interlocking. This is amazing! When I first saw this technology, I was deeply impressed and strongly wanted to adopt it for Bossa boxes.
* CLASSIC edition boxes are manufactured by Morita (https://www.hakop.jp), a company specializing in boxes, in Sapporo, Japan.
:::
CLASSIC edition box close-up
:::
Environmentally conscious material selection
We want to use natural, safe, and environmentally friendly materials whenever possible in the products we use on a daily basis. Therefore, we prioritize recycled paper blended, ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp blended, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper in our paper selection. We use a “minimum” amount of adhesives made from petroleum-derived raw materials to ensure the bonding strength of the paper used for tiles and boxes, but we do not use petroleum solvents in the manufacturing process. Of course, we use only materials whose safety has been verified and approved by Japanese laws and regulations. The entire retractable box is made of paper, and no metal or plastic parts are used.
It may not be perfect, but we have put the utmost care and effort into this CLASSIC edition that we can do for the environment.
:::
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you againfor your support of our project. We hope you will treat the Bossa CLASSIC edition with care and use it in your daily life. And may it become your favorite.
Hiroshi MAEDA, Bossa team leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
The other day, I shot a video on my desk about the durability of Bossa THE ART edition. Because those tiles are so delicately handcrafted, one Kickstarter backer asked if they were fragile. This video answers that and I hope to share it with you.
:::
– Comparison of a brand new tile and a tile we used repeatedly for almost a year of test play: how much it is scratched and dirty.
– What happens when the tiles are hit hard against the desk?
– What happens when thetiles hit againsteach other?
– What happens when you press your fingernail against a tile?
– And what happens when you scrub hard with your fingernails?
:::
Please watch this video and check the truth.
:::
:::
Thank you for reading and watching. And thank you for your support of our project.
Hiroshi MAEDA, Bossa team leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
THE ART edition “mizu” and “hana” are the flagship versions of Bossa. Today, we would like to share with you some details about the boxes, which were only briefly mentioned on the Kickstarter project main page.
The octagonal box designed especially for Bossa THE ART edition is finally ready. This is not the prototype but the finished product. The boxes are individually made by craftsmen from Morita (https://www.hakop.jp), a Japanese company specializing in boxes.
:::
Shape
The shape is designed as an octagon, consisting of a lid, a body, and a string and tassel holding it all together. The octagonal shape can be said to symbolize the Japanese style, but it requires a very high level of skill to make a box in this shape.
The white box is for “hana” and the black box is for “mizu”.
:::
Bossa THE ART edition “hana”
:::Bossa THE ART edition “mizu”
:::
Surface
The surface material of the box is Japanese paper. We chose a paper called “shindanshi” which has an embossed texture with a Japanese feel.
:::
:::
Foil Stamping
The title logo, version name, and Banana Moon Games logo are silver color foil stamped, while the graphic pattern of stripes symbolizing Bossa is transparent foil stamped.
:::
:::
Clasp
A string and tassel to fasten the lid to the body. These are not just for decoration, but also for practical use. We designed a form that can be easily attached and detached.
:::
:::
Packaging
The body is designed to perfectly accommodate the three game components: dot tiles, action markers, and dice. The inside of the lid has a pocket to store instruction sheets and serial number certificates.
:::
THE ART “mizu” packaging
:::
THE ART “hana” packaging
:::
About the prototypes
As we started out as a graphic design studio, we were able to create our own design prototypes, and in fact, we actually made many prototypes, which we reviewed and revised over and over again. We have thousands of samples of actual paper, and we choose the best ones by actually handling them all individually.
In addition, the workshop in charge of box production is located in the same city as our studio, so we have the advantage of being able to meet in person at any time to discuss and repeat prototypes while holding the actual prototypes in our hands.
:::
Early design prototypes. Vertical designs were also considered.
:::
Some of the actual paper samples
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you also for your support of our project, we would be very happy if Bossa becomes your favorite.
Hiroshi MAEDA, Bossa team leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
Today, I would like to introduce the difference in the tiles of “mizu” and “hana”, which is not only the color. THE ART edition “mizu” and “hana” are both flagship versions of Bossa, and have the same “specifications” as far as their 9-layer construction. However, the playing experience will be different. At least for us, it is, and we enjoy changing the version we use every day, depending on our mood. (Yes, we play it every day without getting bored.)
:::
The difference between “mizu” and “hana” is easily recognizable at a glance: the color. But the most noticeable difference in the actual playing experience is probably the “feel” of the tiles when you hold them in your hands. You feel it when you draw tiles from the Pile, when you place tiles on the color line, and many players unconsciously stroke the tiles while contemplating their tactics.
:::
Bossa THE ART edition “mizu” dot tile
:::
“mizu” has a solid, slightly hard feel
The backside of “mizu” is made of tightly pressed paper with fine embossing. The paper is called “Jacquard” and is made in Japan. It is also finished with a light varnish. The backside of “mizu” has a solid, slightly hard, firm feel in the hand, and at the same time has a pleasant “weight” that is unique to THE ART edition.
:::
Back side of dot tiles: “mizu” on the left, “hana” on the right
:::
“hana” is the feel of soft and elegant Japanese beauty.
The back side of “hana” is made of “shindanshi” paper, the same as the box. It is beautifully embossed with Japanese “washi” like patterns, and its larger bumps than those of “mizu” contain more air, giving it a soft and elegant feel. When you experience this Japanese beauty, your temperament while playing may become more calm, gentle, and respectful. (It often feels like a tea ceremony when we play with “hana”.)
:::
Bossa THE ART edition “hana” dot tile
:::
You can imagine the difference in feel from the “sound”…
Since we cannot hold the actual product on the web, it is difficult to convey the feel and weight of the product, but we thought we might be able to convey it through sound. This video compares the sound of each version of the tile.
* The audio was recorded using an AKG condenser microphone and processed with noise reduction only, with no other effectors used or processed in any way.
:::
:::
– STANDARD edition
The tile size is the smallest, so the sound is high pitched. It is also the lightest in weight, so the volume is lower.
:::
– CLASSIC edition
The sound produced by the two-layered tiles is bright, light, and bouncy. The dry sound resonates well.
:::
Back side of dot tiles: STANDARD on the left, CLASSIC on the right
:::
– THE ART edition “mizu” and “hana“
It has the heaviest, most subdued sound, with nine layers absorbing the shock and settling down pleasantly without any grating reverberations. It is not bouncy, in a good way, and feels snug and absorbent. The difference in the backside paper gives the “mizu” a harder sound and the “hana” a softer sound.
:::
Well, maybe it was a little hard to tell the difference in sound, but I hope you can see that each version is designed not only for appearance, but also for a different playing experience.
We like each version in its own way, but which one is your favorite?
:::
From left to right: STANDARD, CLASSIC, THE ART “mizu”, THE ART “hana”
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you for your support of our project.
Hiroshi MAEDA, Team Leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
The crowdfunding campaign for Bossa (March 24-April 13, 2022 on Kickstarter) has been a success, with over 300 backers in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and Africa supporting the project, far exceeding our expectations. We are pleased to announce that we have achieved 1,420% of our goal and will be able to release the products. In this series of columns, I will present a more in-depth story of Bossa by reconstructing some of the articles I have posted on Kickstarter.
Today, I would like to share the work of our trusted artisan, Masayuki Tadokoro. Mr. Tadokoro is a highly skilled and artistic paper craft artisan. He and his team of artisans handcraft the game components of Bossa CLASSIC edition one by one. And only Mr. Tadokoro can make the components of THE ART edition, which require extremely high skill and delicate work.
:::
Bossa CLASSIC edition tile by Shichisei Sangyo, Mr. Tadokoro’s artisan team
:::
Only Mr. Tadokoro can make Bossa THE ART edition tiles. (“mizu”)
:::
Bossa THE ART edition tile has a beautiful 9-layer cross-section (“hana”)
:::
Why can he make such amazing paper tiles?
The simple, clear answer is that he has a great deal of experience in artistic work, which requires a very high level of skill and delicate handwork. Part of this was developed in collaboration with me (Hiroshi Maeda, Bossa team leader), and I am very proud of that. As a graphic designer myself, I have had many opportunities to work with Mr. Tadokoro over the past 25 years. Some of our work has won design awards. And sometimes when I served as a design award judge, I would design a trophy with crazy specifications to present to the winners, which he would then turn into a real thing. Because of this long-standing relationship of trust between him and me, I had no hesitation in asking him to craft Bossa’s CLASSIC and THE ART editions.
:::
A design award trophy made of thousands of layers of colored paper. Design: Hiroshi Maeda, Paper craft: Masayuki Tadokoro
:::
Hiroshi Maeda, Bossa team leader (left) and Masayuki Tadokoro, paper craft artisan (right)
:::
Video: Handcraft of Bossa – at the artisan’s workshop
:::
Perfectly aligned foil stamping technique
The dots on Bossa tiles are foil-stamped in black and white. In the general technique, the black and white dots are more or less misaligned because the foil is stamped twice on two different plates. In Bossa, however, there is absolutely no misalignment. This is because two colors are stamped at once on one plate so that the black and white dots are perfectly and precisely aligned.
:::
:::
To do this, a small piece of white foil is placed only where the white dot should be. This is a very delicate process using tweezers. Then overlap black foil on top of those and press.
:::
:::
:::
After it, remove the sheet of foil. The small pieces of white foil are removed with tweezers. Great care must be taken not to damage them.
:::
:::
Combining layers of paper by hand feel
Layer different colors of dyed paper and paste them together. The CLASSIC edition has 2 layers, and THE ART edition has 9 layers. Using a special handmade tool, adjust the cross section so that it is not too flat, creating a comfortable “gap” to the touch, paste the sheets together. This delicate sensibility is unique to Mr. Tadokoro.
:::
:::
To go a little deeper, paper has a direction and a front and back. If all of these are pasted together in the same orientation, they will always be distorted. How should they be combined? It is not easy. To that end, he has a secret solution, the result of his trial-and-error process.
:::
:::
Inspection of tile finish condition
Inspect the completed tiles. Using a magnifying glass, each tile is checked in detail. Only the tiles that pass the inspection are boxed.
:::
:::
:::
Two sets a day? really precious!
How many sets of Bossa components can you imagine he and his team makes in a day with so much craftsmanship and so much time? His team makes tens of CLASSIC edition sets, and only 2 to 4 sets of THE ART edition sets, which only he can make! That’s just THE ART, don’t you think it’s really precious?
:::
CLASSIC edition
:::
THE ART edition “mizu”
:::
THE ART edition “hana”
:::
Thank you for reading. And thank you again for your support of our project.
We hope that Bossa will become a valuable part of your collection and that you will enjoy the game for many years to come.
:::
Hiroshi Maeda, Bossa team leader
:::
Bossa on Indiegogo [Ending Soon]
Late Pledge live on Indiegogo now! The last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions are available in limited quantities. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bossa#/
“Bossa” is a project that was funded in 8 hours on Kickstarter in March-April 2022 and achieved 1,420%.
This Indiegogo InDemand campaign is for the late pledges, and is seeking backers for the last production quota of this year. Artisan-made versions will be available in limited quantities.
Since the artisans’ schedule is already full, the last production of this year will be ended in early August, and the next production will not resume until May 2023 at the earliest. Also, as far as we can tell right now, the only place where they will be available for purchase is Japan after this campaign. We do not currently have a retail network outside of Japan.
We are preparing an international crowdfunding campaign for our new game Pipo, which sold out in 3 hours at Tokyo Game Market 2022 Spring.
If you would like to receive launch notifications, news, and online test play announcements by e-mail, please fill out the form from the link below to subscribe.
In addition to the new title “Pipo,” “Gingham Coco,” “#Gome-kei,” “Go Go Jenny,” “Bistro FLIP,” “BABA the Mahjongish,” and “Dobutsu no Oshiri Cards” were displayed and sold at the Banana Moon booth. Pipo sold out in three hours!
The Bossa booth sold STANDARD edition, display CLASSIC and THE ART editions that were successfully crowdfunded on Kickstarter, and demonstrated the “Advanced Rules” recommended for gamers. STANDARD edition sold out in two days again following the last Tokyo Game Market 2021 Autumn!
Our Bossa campaign on Kickstarter has come to an end. Thanks to the great support of each and every one of our backers, the results have far exceeded our expectations. 1,420% Achieved!
We would also like to thank our collaborators and suppliers, without whom the Bossa project would not have been possible. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce and express our gratitude to them.
Thank you again to all of you from the bottom of our hearts. ” Arigato”.
CLASSIC edition is a version of Bossa characterized by its natural look and feel. Today, I would like to share with you in detail our thoughts on CLASSIC edition and our choice of materials.
The concept of “hare” and “ke” is alive and well in our Japanese life. The word “hare” means “extraordinary” in the truest sense of the word. For example, clothes worn on special occasions such as weddings and graduation ceremonies are called “hare-gi,” and their stages are called “hare no butai”. So, Bossa’s THE ART edition may be “Bossa for hare”.
On the other hand, “ke” represents “everyday” things. Traditionally in Japan, living close to nature in the four seasons and being simple and modest have been the virtues of “ke”. We wanted to have a Bossa at hand that would enrich our daily lives, that would be simple and modest but of high quality, and made of natural materials as much as possible. Yes, the concept of the CLASSIC edition is to make “ke” even more pleasant.
Leaves are swaying in the breeze, casting light and shadow on the Bossa CLASSIC
Paper tiles with a gentle touch
The CLASSIC edition dot tiles feel very gentle to the touch. There are two reasons for this. One is the use of Japanese dyed paper, which has a natural texture and smooth feel. The other is that the surface of the paper is neither “printed” nor coated with a base color. The color of both the face side and the back side of the tile is the color of the paper itself, dyed. Because there is no layer of ink or coating on the surface, the original texture of the paper can be directly touched. The foil-stamping and additionally pressed dots are slightly indented, which is also pleasant to the touch.
CLASSIC edition tile close-up
Handcrafted by Japanese artisans
Looking at the cross section of a CLASSIC edition tile, you will notice that there is no card board or chipboard core as in typical paper tiles or chips. It is a two-layer structure consisting of a thick gray paper on the face side and a thick black paper on the back side (strictly speaking, it is composed of more layers, since each thick paper itself has multiple layers). They are dyed papers, so even the cross section shows beautiful colors.
Let us show you the proof that each one is handmade by skilled Japanese artisans. Please take a look at the photo below. You can see that the angle between the surface and the cross section of the tile is not sharp not only on the face side but also on the back side. In general machine production, the face side is rounded and the back side is sharp. Naturally, artisan-made tiles have a gentler feel to the touch.
* CLASSIC edition tiles are handmade at Shichisei Sangyo, a paper craft artisan company in Sapporo, Japan.
CLASSIC edition tiles cross section close-up
Tiles that “breathe” with natural materials
Made of natural materials and uncoated to feel natural to the touch, CLASSIC edition tiles seem to “breathe” air just like we do. If you look closely, you may notice slight warping depending on conditions such as temperature and humidity. For example, can you see it in the photo above? It is so slight that you may not notice it, and it is not enough to interfere with your game. We are pleased if you understand that this is also a proof of natural materials.
Bossa CLASSIC edition retractable box
The retractable box is made of paper and is surprisingly elaborate
The CLASSIC edition box is retractable. It opens smoothly, closes pleasantly with a natural feeling, and holds. However, this paper box uses no metal fittings or plastic parts. This was made possible by the elaborate paper processing technology of a Japanese box specialist. The “V-cut” technique, in which a V-shaped incision is made during processing, creates precise angles and surfaces to achieve strength and precise interlocking. This is amazing! When I first saw this technology, I was deeply impressed and strongly wanted to adopt it for Bossa boxes.
* CLASSIC edition boxes are manufactured by Morita (https://www.hakop.jp), a company specializing in boxes, in Sapporo, Japan.
CLASSIC edition box close-up
Environmentally conscious material selection
We want to use natural, safe, and environmentally friendly materials whenever possible in the products we use on a daily basis. Therefore, we prioritize recycled paper blended, ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp blended, and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper in our paper selection. We use a “minimum” amount of adhesives made from petroleum-derived raw materials to ensure the bonding strength of the paper used for tiles and boxes, but we do not use petroleum solvents in the manufacturing process. Of course, we use only materials whose safety has been verified and approved by Japanese laws and regulations. The entire retractable box is made of paper, and no metal or plastic parts are used.
It may not be perfect, but we have put the utmost care and effort into this CLASSIC edition that we can do for the environment.
Thank you for reading. And thank you againfor your support of our project. We hope you will treat the Bossa CLASSIC edition with care and use it in your daily life. And may it become your favorite.
Good news, Bossa has been selected as a “Project We Love” by the Kickstarter team. We are so happy and honored! Thanks to our backers for your early support!
Thank you for supporting Bossa’s Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. We have reached our funding goal 8 hours after launch! The campaign will run for 3 weeks. Please let your gaming friends know.
We have launched a crowdfunding campaign for Bossa on Kickstarter.
Bossa is a stylish 2-player game that was well received at Game Market 2021 Autumn. We hope to bring the world a higher version of Bossa from Japan, with high quality and beautiful components made by skilled craftsmen, and with a special attention to the box! Thank you for your support.
Banana Moon Games’ new game for Fall 2021 is “Bossa”, a simple yet stylish go-out game for two players. The game will be available at Tokyo Game Market 2021 Autumn, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight on November 20 and 21.
We are now taking pre-orders for “Bossa Standard Edition” to be sold at the event! If you would like to reserve your copy, please fill out this form. https://forms.gle/nLcyKqkAzbowpvyd8
Gome-kei (「ゴメン」で済んだらケーサツいらないんだよぅ！) is now available on Amazon. As this is a board game played in Japanese, the game information is also available in Japanese only. https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B09HQPWLMP
The official online store “Banana Punipunido” is now accepting pre-orders and will start shipping on Monday, September 27, 2021.
We are also preparing to make it available at board game stores and online stores in Japan. More information on retailers will be announced as soon as it becomes available.
