Shogi

Shogi

Shogi’s Popularity in China

So Different from Japan! In Shanghai, Japanese “Shogi” Is Categorized into “Physical Education”! I visited “Xu Jiandong Shogi Club” in Shanghai. By the way, did you know that Japanese Shogi had been introduced into the elementary school curricu-lum in Shanghai? More surprisingly, Shogi has been taught in gym class out there! I heard that Japanese Shogi was regarded as one subject in the category of “Mind sports” in China side by side with Chinese chess, Xiangqi and Go. (In Japan, mostly Shogi is not included into the school curriculum, nor is it regarded as one of sports.) I can tell how much exhausted I am after each Shogi game. During

Akiko Nakakura 19 December 2016

Shogi

Find More About the Meijin Title Match

I suppose our readers have been familiar with “board and pieces of I-tsu-tsu,” reading through our newsletters. Board and pieces of I-tsu-tsu were used for a real Shogi game played between Amahiko Sato who was at eighth dan (a kind of rank) and Meijin Habu in the third Kyoku (Kyoku is a suffix put to count games) of the 74th Meijin Title Match this year. Those players’ titles were ones in those days. I-tus-tsu usually offers children opportunities to use these board and pieces through our events. This is because we want them to have come to understand Shogi deeply as one of traditional Japanese culture. However, a short introduction

Nae Kanamoto 19 December 2016

Five tips for children playing Shogi on the Internet

There are fulfilling Shogi software and online Shogi games are available lately. I hope that people play in person Shogi since I believe we can learn a lot from Shogi as a communication tool. Still, I also think online Shogi games are beneficial in terms that we can engage in actual matches easily at our convenience. So, I hope you use online Shogi games wisely as a starter or a training to enhance your skills. Today, I would like to introduce some tips that parents might find useful when they want to advise children playing online Shogi games. 1. Children perform the usual greetings even when they play on the

Akiko Nakakura 2 November 2016

Shogi Changes Children!

Previously on our blog, we talked about the value of accepting one’s own defeat and awareness of the importance of diligent work through Shogi. It is often said that Shogi is effective for children to gain thinking skills. Yet, Shogi has more to offer. I think that Shogi has further more values. So today I would like to share five points on the advantages of children’s learning Shogi as a professional Shogi player and mother of one boy and two girls. 1. Shogi helps children to lean good manners and etiquettes. What I value most when I teach Shogi to children is “Mittsu no Rei (the three courtesies).” This is

Akiko Nakakura 1 November 2016

Shogi

Shogi is a Mind Sport

Rio Olympics ended on the 21st August, 2016. Many athletes made a strong impression on the nation, such as Kaoru Icho who became the first Japanese woman to win four consecutive Olympic titles, Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo who are doubles badminton players. Since I used to play tennis, personally speaking, I was deeply impressed with Kei Nishikori won the medal for the first time in 96 years. How about you? Did you enjoy it? By the way, as you know, Olympics is a great sports event that athletes compete physical performance sand strength in individual or team sports, such as soccer and athletics. Did you know there is a

Nae Kanamoto 1 November 2016

Shogi

Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi – : Step 1-11 Let’s Play a 5×5 Shogi Game (Mini Shogi)

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with traditional Japanese culture. *Please note that the Kanji numbers in pictures are spelled in English in the text. The following Shogi boards have a face with files (vertical rows) numbered 1 through 9 from right to left, and ranks (horizontal rows) designated with Kanji characters, “一” (One) to “九” (Nine), from top to bottom. On the other hand, in the text, each Kanji character is replaced with an alphabet, from “a” to “i” : “一” with “a”, “二” with “b”, … and “九” with ”i”. Finally, this is the last lesson of Step

Akiko Nakakura 1 November 2016

Shogi

Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi – : Step 1-10 Capture Gyoku (King) with Kin (Gold) and Gin (Silver)

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with tra-ditional Japanese culture. Let’s practice “Tsumi” (checkmate) in a game. First, let’s try to capture the opponent’s Gyoku (King) with two pieces of Kin (Gold). The previous step Let’s capture the opponent’s Gyoku (King)! First, let’s use a small board of 5×5 squares, and place pieces as below. Parents should take the Gyoku (King) side (defense) and children should be the Kin (Gold) side (offense). Let’s exchange greeting first. Say “Onegai shimasu (I’d like to rely on you to play this game with me.)” Parents, please take the following steps. First, try not to capture Kin (Gold). Your child will surely win.

Akiko Nakakura 1 November 2016

Shogi

Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi – : Step 1-9 Tsumi (Checkmate)

Explore art of Shogi. A professional Shogi player invites you to the world of Shogi along with traditional Japanese culture. “Shogi Rules – How to Play Shogi –“ is available on the blog of I-tsu-tsu Co., Ltd. The previous step Even a novice player will be able to play a standard Shogi. There are three steps and one step has approximately 20 lessons. You will be able to play Mini Shogi in Step 1, and it is full of fun! Step 1-9 “Tsumi (Checkmate)” In the previous step, we learnt how to defense Oute. So, today, we will learn “Tsumi.” Tsumi is a situation where Gyoku (King) is under check and has