Shogi (Japanese Chess) Set
Forty pentagonal pieces with kanji, a 9Γ9 board and the drop rule that changes everything.
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- Game
- Shogi (Japanese chess); 9Γ9 board, captured pieces re-enter play
- Pieces
- 40 pieces: 20 per side, promoted faces on the reverse
- Piece size
- King about 3.2 Γ 2.9 cm, pieces graded down to the pawn
- Material
- Plastic or boxwood pieces with printed or engraved kanji; folding or solid wood board
- Includes
- Board, 40 pieces, sometimes two piece stands (komadai)
Piece dimensions are the common nominal figure for this type of set and vary by a millimetre or so between factories.
What this set actually is
Shogi is chess with a twist that makes it a different game: a captured piece changes sides and can be dropped back onto the board as your own. The equipment reflects that. Pieces are pentagonal wedges pointing at the opponent, marked with kanji on the front and their promoted form on the back, and captured pieces sit on a small stand beside each player.
A standard set has 40 pieces on a 9Γ9 board of about 33 by 36 cm. Entry-level plastic sets with printed kanji are fine to learn on and exactly what many Japanese players grew up with. The step up is wood: boxwood or similar pieces with engraved or raised kanji on a thicker board, which is the set people keep.
If you cannot read kanji yet, buy a set whose pieces also carry small arrows or Western symbols, or a plain set plus the printed key that most come with. The eight piece types are learned in an evening. Check that both players have a king: in many sets one is marked η and the other η, which is traditional and correct.
What sets it apart
- Beginner sets print movement arrows on the pieces; players outgrow them in a month
- Pieces are graded in size by rank, so a set with a visibly larger king is the correct one
- Piece stands for captured pieces are worth having, since shogi puts captures back on the board
Who should buy it
Chess players curious about shogi, and fans who met the game through anime or manga.
Not sure which game to start with? Read our guide to go, xiangqi and shogi.
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