Garden actions affect or are affected by the Emperor’s position. Cards are numbered and are resolved lowest to highest. Each player has a set of five, and secretly chooses one to play each round. Pawns closest without running into the Emperor are awarded points when it stops at one of the three sakura (cherry blossom tree) spaces. Players that run into the Emperor lose a point and are pushed back three spaces. The object of Sakura is to be the closest player to the emperor pawn without running into or passing it. Gameplay Overview: Movement cards determine painter and emperor’s positions. Sakura is a push your luck type abstract strategy game for two to six players that runs about twenty to thirty minutes. In Sakura, players follow the Emperor around his garden, hoping to be close enough to paint the best picture without suffering the ignominy of running into his royal highness. The Emperor walks through his beautifully appointed garden while you and a few other aspiring painters trail respectfully behind, hoping to quickly paint the finest new work of art for his court. Spring – when cherry blossom petals fall languidly down on the breeze, bright color peaks out from every light green shoot, and the perfume of a thousand flowers fills the air.