Who goes first in IKI?
English Sorry We Are French edition
With three or four players, whoever visited Japan most recently is the first month's starting player; choose randomly if nobody has visited Japan. With two players, randomly assign the Sun and Moon tokens; the Sun player starts the first month.
Rule details
The starter chooses an Ikizama space first. The chosen spaces then determine the action order, so the setup starter does not necessarily take the first action.
For the first month's choice order, the starting player's firefighting marker is on top of the stack, with the other markers underneath in clockwise order.
Source & edition
- IKI: Sorry We Are French rulesSorry We Are French · Player Setup, steps 10–11; Phase A, Way of Life; Rules for 2 Players, Setup; PDF pages 2, 6, 12 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 2, 6, 12
Image: © Sorry We Are French and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Sorry We Are French
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
BuranoWhoever visited Italy most recently starts. If nobody has ever been there, choose the starting player randomly.
The Great Fire of London 1666The player who most recently visited London starts. Alternatively, choose a player randomly.
Tang GardenThe most recent visitor to China goes first. If nobody has visited, choose randomly.
Time Bomb EvolutionWhoever most recently visited London is the starting player.
Forum TrajanumWhoever most recently visited a city center is the starting player.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.