Japanese Chess

Shogi is Japan’s version of chess, but with a brutal twist—captured pieces switch sides and can be redeployed against their former owner. It’s a game of relentless warfare, where no piece is ever truly out of play.

The board is a 9×9 grid, slightly larger than a chessboard, and the pieces are pentagonal wedges with kanji inscriptions rather than distinct figurines. No colours here—just direction. Each piece is flat, pointing forward, and its allegiance is determined by which way it faces. The key pieces include:

• King (Ōshō) – the one you must protect.
• Rook (Hisha) & Bishop (Kakugyō) – the heavy-hitters, powerful but limited in mobility.
• Gold General (Kinshō) & Silver General (Ginshō) – versatile mid-range fighters.
• Knights (Keima) & Lances (Kyōsha) – sneaky, aggressive pieces.
• Pawns (Fuhyō) – cannon fodder, but deadly in numbers.

Another major difference from chess? Promotion. Pieces that reach the enemy’s back ranks can evolve, gaining new movement abilities. A Silver General can become a Gold. A pawn can transform into something far nastier.

And then, there’s drops—the mechanic that makes shogi uniquely ruthless. Any captured piece is now yours, ready to be parachuted anywhere on the board as an active unit. This keeps the game dynamic, preventing slow positional play. No grinding down to a slow endgame—shogi stays sharp and lethal until the final move.

It’s not unusual to see people playing shogi outside, especially in Japan’s parks, tucked-away street corners or like here in front of a railway station. There’s a rhythm to it. The sharp “pach!” of wooden pieces hitting the board, the occasional murmur of strategy from onlookers, and the ever-present backdrop of rustling leaves, distant traffic, or a passing train. Spectators—often fellow retirees—watch with hands clasped behind their backs, offering the occasional grunt of approval or dry remark when a particularly clever move is played. You might even see younger players joining in, learning from the veterans, or business workers unwinding with a quick game before heading home. In smaller towns, shogi pops up in community squares, outside local cafés, or even near riverbanks, where old friends meet daily to challenge each other in endless rematches.