Japanese Chess – Shogi – 将棋
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Tag: Japan Shogi Association

  • 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…)