Shogi (Traditional Japanese Board Game): Tendo City

• Shogi = Traditional Japanese Board game

  Shogi is a traditional Japanese board game which is similar to chess. Tendo City boasts the highest production volume of shogi pieces in Japan, and it is said that the production of shogi pieces originally started as a side job practiced by samurai of the Tendo Oda domain.
  Tendo shogi pieces are made by craftsmen referred to as “writing masters (kakishi)”, “carving masters (horishi)”, and “relief masters (moriageshi)”. Shogi pieces made by hand by master craftsmen (meiko) are recognized as traditional national artisanal products and used in shogi title matches such as the Ryuo tournament.

• Human Shogi: A Game of Armed Warriors

  In spring, a “Human Shogi” festival is held in Mt. Maizuru, surrounded by about 2,000 blooming cherry blossom trees.
  Samurai dressed in armor and court ladies dressed in kimono transform into living shogi pieces, controlled by professional shogi players facing off on an oversized shogi board. The game is a spectacle to behold, reminiscent of the battles of Japan’s warring states.
  All over Tendo City, you can find shogi piece statues and try solving shogi puzzles on the sidewalk, so you can experience the joy of shogi while strolling through the town.
  You can also buy shogi pieces, keychains, etc. at various shops, or even try making your own shogi piece, so be sure to stop by!