Created by Nikoli, Nurisaki is a captivating blend of topology, dead-end promontories, and wall placement.

Core Axioms of the Cape

• Circle Sanctuary: Cells containing circles can never be shaded black.
• The Cape Definition: Every circle is a cape — it must have exactly 1 orthogonal white neighbor. Furthermore, no uncircled white cell is ever allowed to be a dead end!
• White Unity & No Pools: All white cells must form a single continuous landmass, and no \(2\times 2\) block of white cells can ever exist.
• Branch Lengths: Numbered circles indicate the distance from the cape tip to the first branching junction.

Key Deduction Strategies

Begin by observing the orthogonal neighbors of each circle. Because a circle must have degree 1, if it sits along an edge or near a corner, you can frequently deduce which neighbor is its sole exit path! Once an exit path is extended, shade the remaining three neighbors black. Always watch out for potential 2x2 white clusters and shade preventing corners immediately.