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Level 19 guide: Japan (hard)

Tradition and bullet trains, side by side. A 9×9 board. Colors are named in the steps below, and rows and columns are counted from the top left starting at 1. This guide spoils the solution, so try the level first.

Play level 19

The board

Step by step

12 deductions lead to the 9 stamps. Each placed stamp also rules out its row, column, touching cells and the rest of its region.

1. The green region can only hold its stamp in column 2, so every other cell in column 2 cannot hold a stamp (6 cells ruled out).
2. The periwinkle region can only hold its stamp in column 1, so every other cell in column 1 cannot hold a stamp (7 cells ruled out).
3. The peach region and the stone region must all put their stamps in columns 3 and 4, so every other cell in columns 3 and 4 cannot hold a stamp (10 cells ruled out).
4. The pink region has only one cell left: row 6, column 5. Place the stamp there.
5. The amber region has only one cell left: row 2, column 6. Place the stamp there.
6. The periwinkle region has only one cell left: row 5, column 1. Place the stamp there.
7. The green region has only one cell left: row 3, column 2. Place the stamp there.
8. The peach region has only one cell left: row 7, column 3. Place the stamp there.
9. The stone region has only one cell left: row 9, column 4. Place the stamp there.
10. The mint region has only one cell left: row 8, column 7. Place the stamp there.
11. The teal region has only one cell left: row 4, column 9. Place the stamp there.
12. The rose region has only one cell left: row 1, column 8. Place the stamp there.

Final solution