A Shogi Map: 5 Japanese Organizations That Shape the Game
If you’ve been watching shogi online or learning the rules at home, you’ve probably wondered: “Who runs all this?” In Japan, shogi is not only a game. It’s a whole culture, with leagues, events, teachers, and big community networks.
Below are five major shogi organizations (and one big network) that you’ll see again and again when you explore Japanese shogi life. I’m not ranking them. This is just a helpful “map.”
Heads up: these sites are mostly Japanese. Your browser’s translate button can do a lot.
Quick “Japanese site survival” tips
- Look for dates like 2025/12/16 or 2025年12月16日. That’s usually what’s new.
- Words you’ll see everywhere: 棋戦 (tournament), 対局 (game), 棋士 (pro), 女流 (women’s pro), 大会 (event), 支部 (branch).
- Don’t overthink it. Even with rough translation, you can usually spot: who is playing, where, and when.
1) Japan Shogi Association (日本将棋連盟, JSA): the home of pro shogi
If shogi had a city hall, this would be it.
The Japan Shogi Association is the main organization behind professional shogi. It’s where official tournaments live, where pro game schedules/results get posted, and where most “official” shogi announcements start. If you want to follow shogi like you follow sports, this is your scoreboard.
The JSA also does a lot of “culture work” behind the scenes. It keeps official records, supports big events, and helps connect shogi to media and the public. In other words: it helps shogi stay visible.
What you’ll find on the JSA site:
- Pro games (schedule, results, records)
- Player database (a rabbit hole all by itself)
- Tournament and event pages (tickets, schedules, “watch parties,” etc.)
- History articles (from ancient roots to modern times)
- Links to dojos, schools, and local branches
A quick history note: the JSA traces its roots to a “Tokyo Shogi Association” formed in 1924, became “Japan Shogi Association” in 1927, and became a public-interest corporation in 2011. In 2024, it celebrated its 100th anniversary, which is a fun reminder that shogi has real institutional history.
2) Ladies Professional Shogi-players’ Association (日本女子プロ将棋協会, LPSA): women’s pro shogi + outreach
The LPSA is a women’s pro shogi organization with a big focus on outreach. It runs events, shares reports, and builds programs that help women and girls enjoy shogi (and aim higher).
A big part of LPSA culture is “creating spaces.” That can mean tournaments for girls, women’s amateur events, teaching sessions, and projects that make it easier to start from zero. I also like how the site feels human: schedules, reports, and “what we’re doing next.”
Two projects that stand out:
- GSP (Girl’s Shogi Project): creating an environment where girls can enjoy shogi.
- GSP Challenge: a training program (started in 2017) for girls/young women who want to become women’s pros; it moved online from 2020.
One more cool detail: GSP isn’t only about strong players. It also includes beginner-friendly tools and ideas, like simple starter sets and learning materials.
The LPSA also talks about the “three wa” (three kinds of connection): 和 (harmony), 話 (conversation), and 輪 (circle/community). That’s a very shogi way to describe what a board game can do: it builds relationships.
3) All Japan Student Shogi Federation (全日本学生将棋連盟): the university shogi world
University shogi in Japan is a big deal. It’s competitive, organized, and it produces strong players.
The student federation runs competitions by splitting Japan into regions, then holding team and individual events. Big national events include Student Meijin (学生名人戦) and Student Oza (学生王座戦). The Student Meijin has deep roots. For example, the 80th tournament was held in 2024.
Culturally, student shogi keeps shogi young. It’s where people build habits like study, review, and healthy rivalry. It’s also where “team shogi” becomes a real thing. Your club mates become your training partners.
If you’ve ever wondered where a lot of strong “future teachers,” “future streamers,” or “future shogi writers” come from… it’s often this world.
4) Japan Amateur Shogi Federation (日本アマチュア将棋連盟, “Amaren”): the amateur tournament engine
One major name is the Japan Amateur Shogi Federation, often called “Amaren.” A key part of its culture is its rating system and rating-based tournaments, including a national-scale “All Japan Amateur Shogi Rating Championship” (全国アマ将棋レーティング選手権).
It gives everyday players a structured world with events, results, and goals, without needing to be a pro. Even just browsing rating pages can be motivating, because you can see how active the scene is week to week.
If you’re the kind of person who likes “progress you can measure,” this part of shogi culture will make sense fast.
5) JSA branches & certified instructors: how shogi becomes local
This is the part that makes shogi feel like a real community: local branches (支部) and certified instructors (普及指導員).
Branches can host local tournaments, run study meetings, and invite pros for teaching events. Certified instructors often teach in community centers and schools. This is the “plumbing” of shogi culture. It is the part you don’t see on TV, but the part that keeps the game alive.
And this is also the easiest door for many beginners: instead of learning alone, you can learn in a room with real boards, real people, and real encouragement. If you’ve ever wished you had a local shogi friend, this is the path.
So… what should you follow first?
If you want to watch pro matches, start with the JSA.
If you want women’s shogi and outreach, follow the LPSA.
If you love viewing rising talent, explore the student federation.
If you want to play tournaments, peek into Amaren’s rating world.
If you want shogi friends in real life, use the branch and instructor lists.
Don’t be intimidated by these sites if they are in Japanese. Hit “Translate,” and click around for five minutes. These organizations are some of the biggest doors into Japanese shogi culture.