Kyojuu in the Dark

From BoardGameGeek:

Kyojuu in the Dark is a strategic memory game about uniting a mythical island under your clan. Four clans make up the island: Rock, Water, Forest, and Earth. In the darkness, quiet battles rage, with Lords, Warriors, Farmers, and even Children playing their part. Loyal as dogs, the towering Kyojuu fight alongside human masters. These mythical creatures protect their clans with unmatched strength. Remembering former times of peace, the Kyojuu are powerless in the presence of Children. To start the game, each player places their 9 pieces face down within their designated 3x3 home area. Once placed onto the board, these pieces cannot be flipped over again except when attacking, being attacked, or by the special use of an action card. Each turn, players decide whether to roll and advance their pieces, battle another player, “pinch”, or instead play an action card. When attacking, players reveal the face of one of their pieces that is next to an opposing player's piece. The opponent then reveals their face, and the lower-ranked piece gets removed from the board. The only way to oust a Kyojuu from the board is to “pinch”, which is when two Children from any clan surround a Kyojuu. This move can be made at any point in the game. Through battles and card play, each player's ultimate goal is to reach the center square of an opponent's 3x3 square home territory. The first player that lands on the center square of an opponent's territory is declared the winner.