SHOGI CULTURE

Every 17 November. The eighth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, fixed this day for the castle games (oshiro shogi) played before the shogun, and the Japan Shogi Association took it as its anniversary.

The summit of shogi, contested for eight major titles. Players wear kimono and hakama, and two-day games end the first day with a sealed move (fūjite). Held at inns and hotels across Japan, they often become local events.

The lunches and snacks players order during a game. What they choose makes the news, and the restaurants become pilgrimage spots for fans.

Fine pieces are carved into boxwood and built up with lacquer (moriage-goma). A Tendō carver who hand-cuts pieces of title-match quality has been named one of Japan's Contemporary Master Craftsmen.

The Japan Shogi Association's training league for professionals. Members climb the kyu and dan ranks; in the twice-yearly third-dan league only the top two are promoted to 4-dan and turn pro. As a rule, those who have not reached 4-dan by age 26 must leave.

Shogi mating puzzles: find the sequence that checkmates the king, giving check on every move, with the shortest line as the answer. The Japan Shogi Association posts a new one every day.

Japan's top producer of shogi pieces. Every year in late April, during the cherry blossom festival, people dress as pieces for the Human Shogi (ningen shogi) game.

Headquarters of the Japan Shogi Association, moved into a new building in September 2024. On the ground floor, Kinone combines a dojo, shop and café — a good stop for any shogi fan.

Reopened in December 2024 in front of JR Takatsuki Station. The ground floor has a shop and dojo, and official professional games are played upstairs.

Rei Kiriyama turned pro in middle school; lonely after losing his family, he grows through the Kawamoto sisters and his rivals. Adapted into an anime and live-action films.

A young man who left the professional training league dives into the world of money-match players (shinkenshi). Also a 2008 TV drama.

A shogi-club romantic comedy: Ayumu vows to confess to his senpai once he beats her at shogi, and challenges her every day. Also an anime.

Shōsuke Himuro, an unconventional prodigy, becomes a legend among players who stake their lives on the game. The defining shogi manga of the 1990s.

Middle-schooler Ichigo Aida discovers her talent in a game against a teacher and charges headlong into the professional world.

A man who gave up on turning pro because of the age limit rises again through amateur play to challenge the professional world.

An elementary-school boy who dreams of becoming a professional, and the mother who cheers him on and falls for shogi herself.

An essay manga about the daily life of professional Akira Watanabe, drawn by his wife — the quirky side of a title holder.

The serious battles and growth of women professionals, supervised by an active women's professional.

A Korean-language primer: how the pieces move, rules, fouls and notation; Static and Ranging Rook openings; getting stronger with tsume puzzles and game reviews; plus shogi history, the title and professional system, and etiquette.

Shirow Shiratori's light novel about a 16-year-old Ryūō title holder and his elementary-school disciple; also a manga and TV anime.

Yoshio Ōsaki's non-fiction about Satoshi Murayama, who fought illness from childhood while dreaming of the Meijin title.

The true story of Shōji Segawa, who left the training league at the age limit, rebuilt his game as an amateur, and passed the professional entrance exam at 35.

A skeleton found in the mountains, buried with a masterpiece set of shogi pieces, leads investigators into the past of a gifted player.

A shogi apprentice wakes on a strange island and must lead an army of monsters that move and promote like shogi pieces in a battle to the death. By the author of The Black House.

The Japan Shogi Association's flagship magazine, with title-match reports, player interviews and opening lessons. The print edition comes with a tsume-shogi booklet and rating problems; the digital edition leaves out the supplements and contests.

The monthly companion to NHK's shogi lessons and the NHK Cup TV tournament, with lessons by professionals and NHK Cup game reports. Good for studying alongside the broadcasts.

From Hideji Hōjō's play: in late-Meiji Osaka, the poor shogi player Sankichi Sakata chases the dream of being the best in Japan, sustained by his devoted wife Koharu. Tsumasaburō Bandō stars in this classic of shogi cinema.

Ken'ichi Matsuyama gained a great deal of weight to play Satoshi Murayama; Masahiro Higashide plays his rival Yoshiharu Habu.

Ryuhei Matsuda plays Shōji Segawa in this true story. Director Toshiaki Toyoda was himself in the training league as a boy.

Beaten by his rival in the training league, Eiichi (Ryo Yoshizawa) gives up on turning pro and throws himself into writing shogi software at university. Years later he faces that rival, Riku (Ryuya Wakaba), again, as program versus young star. Inspired by a real 2015 pro-versus-computer game.

Kentaro Sakaguchi plays the gifted player Keisuke Kamijō and Ken Watanabe a legendary money-match player. Also an NHK drama in 2019.

Abandoned by her father, a shogi prodigy, Asuka (Non) turns to shogi for revenge and, coached by former professional Tōdō, aims to become the first woman professional. 8 episodes.

Ryūmi Tendō (Mone Kamishiraishi), once tipped to be the first woman professional, becomes a rookie lawyer who reads every case like a shogi opening.

Two seasons, 44 episodes on NHK, carefully capturing both the warmth of the original and the tension of the games.

Twelve episodes about 16-year-old Ryūō Yaichi Kuzuryū and his elementary-school disciple Ai Hinatsuru.

A shogi-club romantic comedy of push and pull between senpai and kōhai. 12 episodes.

Shion, who lost her voice after her parents' deaths, grows into a women's professional while drawing closer to the truth. 22 episodes.

One of the most popular online shogi apps in Japan, with short time controls for quick games.

An international shogi site in English and many other languages, where you can play fans from around the world.

A free, ad-free, open-source shogi site. Play the computer or other people right in your browser.

A free app where a chick character plays against you, with AI opponents from beginner to strong.

Live broadcasts of professional games, including title matches, with AI evaluation of the position.

Japan's dedicated go and shogi channel, broadcasting professional games — title matches and qualifying leagues — with commentary programmes.

An English-language shop run by the shogi company Nekomado, with beginner sets, premium boards and pieces, and shogi books. Korea is on its list of shipping destinations (Asia group), so you can order directly.

A cowhide wallet shaped like the promoted pawn, tokin. It bears Eigetsu-sho, a typeface by Tendo piece carver Chinen, and is stitched by hand, with separate spaces for notes, coins and cards. Ask on Instagram (@tokin_wallet) about delivery and payment first.

A Tendo shogi piece maker since the Meiji era, with everything from hand-carved pieces to beginner pieces and boards. For overseas delivery, send your address and the item through the contact form (in Japanese).

A Tendo maker of shogi pieces, from playing and decorative sets to small netsuke and straps, plus outlet items. The site has an overseas shipping page, so check the terms for your country.

The Japan Shogi Association's official store: boards and pieces, players' fans and goods, original items and books. It only lists delivery within Japan, so from abroad you need a forwarding or proxy-buying service.

The official tourism and local-products office of Tendo, the shogi town. Decorative and playing pieces, netsuke and even shogi-piece sweets from Tendo workshops in one place. No overseas shipping is listed, so use a forwarding service.