How real life in Niseko inspired Yotei - An interview with Illustrator Maria Kato.

About Yotei, from BoardGameGeek:

Create the most charming town at the foot of Mt Yotei, also known as Ezo Fuji, located in Hokkaido Japan ︎ Expand your land with limited manpower, win bids using potatoes, and develop your town. ︎ There are multiple paths to victory. The person who maximizes the charm of their town and collects the most "Charm Points" wins! Set in Niseko, a breathtaking region on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, this board game brings the local scenery, people, and wildlife to life. We've paid special attention to environmental sustainability by using Hokkaido-sourced wood for the tokens, while the artwork-created by a talented Japanese illustrator-is based on real people, landscapes, and events from the community. In this game, you'll craft the most enchanting Hokkaido town. Your currency? Potatoes. Bid with them, unearth more when you run short, and welcome the delights of the north: savory ramen, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, delicate sushi; wild trout, mighty Ezo-bears, curious red foxes; and iconic developments from snowy ski resorts to serene hot-spring villages. With evolving tactics each round, the game stays fresh and captivating from start to finish. Play this game to experience an authentic slice of life in Hokkaido. Despite the adorable "kawaii" illustrations, it's a highly strategic, heart-pounding contest that will leave you eager for "just one more round." The game comes in a medium-sized box that's perfect for game nights-substantial enough to satisfy experienced players yet welcoming to newcomers. It's light enough for casual evenings but packed with enough depth and replayability to keep even seasoned board-gamers coming back again and again. -description from the publisher