Japanese Chess – Shogi – 将棋
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Tag: Japan Shogi Association

  • Recent Outreach and Programs from the Japan Shogi Association: Initiatives and Personal Impact

    By Galo S Mirth

    In recent years, the Japan Shogi Association has expanded outreach beyond traditional title-match audiences. Programs for children, regional communities, beginners, and online viewers have become a visible part of how the game is promoted.

    This article reviews major outreach directions and adds examples of personal impact reported in Japanese community writing.

    Youth and school-facing programs

    JSA-supported school events, beginner lessons, and entry-level materials have helped younger players encounter shogi in structured settings. Regional classes and child-focused events lower the barrier for families who do not already have a shogi background. (more…)

  • Shogi News Roundup (Early February 2026): Promotions, Events, and Community Updates

    By Galo S Mirth

    Early February 2026 has been unusually dense for Japanese shogi news. The official Japan Shogi Association feeds show major title match swings, a historic career milestone announcement, new event recruitment notices, and community facing updates that matter for both dedicated followers and casual fans.

    Title match headlines dominated the week

    The biggest competitive stories in the official news list were from the two top title fronts. In the Osho match, Takuya Nagase’s Game 4 win over Sota Fujii reset the tension in the series. In the Kioh match, Yasuhiro Masuda’s Game 1 win and the run up to Game 2 set up a high pressure early phase in a five game format. Together, these results reinforced that even in the Fujii era, challenger adaptation remains decisive. (more…)

  • Shogi Club 24 Is Closing: The Story of the Internet Dojo That Shaped Modern Shogi

    If you’ve ever played shogi online, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Shogi Club 24, also called “24”, or “ni-yon” in Japan. It’s the plain-looking site that still manages to feel like a real dojo: serious games, strong opponents, and a rating that people actually respect. It also has 300,000+ registered members, and you can register and play for free.

    And now for the part that makes your stomach drop, …

    Shogi Club 24 is scheduled to shut down on December 31, 2025.

    Yes. That Shogi Club 24–the one that helped shape online shogi for more than two decades–is about to become history. (more…)

  • One Illegal Move and It’s Over: Instant-Loss Violations in Shogi (反則負け)

    Shogi is one of the most forgiving strategy games ever… and also one of the strictest.

    Forgiving, because you can bring captured pieces back into the game. Strict, because one illegal move can end your game on the spot.

    In Japanese, an instant-loss violation is usually talked about as 反則負け (hansoku-make), or the “loss by foul.” The Japan Shogi Association (日本将棋連盟) even has a full list of actions that count as “you lose immediately.”

    Today, let’s walk through:

    • what “instant-loss” really means in shogi,
    • how these rules got here (a little history),
    • and some famous “oops” moments, because yes, even pros do this.

    (more…)

  • The Nifu Rule: Why You Can’t Drop Two Pawns in One Column (and How That Rule Got Here)

    If you’ve played even a few games of shogi, you’ve probably heard someone say “nifu!” in a slightly panicked voice.

    Maybe it happened to you. You’re feeling clever. You have a pawn in hand. You see a good square. You drop it… and then the game ends right there because it’s illegal.

    That’s rough. So today I want to talk about the nifu rule, including what it is, why it matters, and the coolest part: how far back we can trace it in shogi history using Japanese sources.

    And yes, we’ll also look at a few “pawn-related” rules that are basically nifu’s cousins. (more…)

  • Japanese Organizations That Shape Shogi

    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.

    (more…)

  • Shogi 2021 in Review

    By Galo S Mirth

    2021 was the year shogi’s center of gravity shifted. Sota Fujii did not just win. He changed the shape of the title map, taking the Ryuo crown and becoming the youngest ever four-crown holder. At the same time, women’s shogi entered a new era with the launch of the Hakurei title system and its rank league.

    (more…)