Human Shogi Battle Returns to Himeji Castle After Five Years

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A human shogi event took place on November 3, inspired by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the feudal lord known to have enjoyed playing this unique version of shogi.

The event, held at the UNESCO World Heritage site Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, marked its return after five years. In this version, participants move as shogi pieces on a giant shogi board guided by the "army commanders." The rules differ from traditional shogi and reflect the war philosophy of a famous samurai tactician.

Shogi Masters as Commanders

A stage resembling a 9x9 shogi board was set up at Sannomaru Square, an open area in the castle grounds. The board measured 18 meters (about 59 feet) on each side.

Shogi players Masayuki Toyoshima, ranked 9-dan, and Tatsuya Sugai, ranked 8-dan, were the commanders of the West and East Armies, respectively. Both wore Sengoku period armor for the game.

*Masayuki Toyoshima (left) and Tatsuya Sugai (second from right) in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture.*

Toshima said in the tone of a samurai warlord: "It's a perfect day for battle. I feel great. Sugai is a master of the Ranging Rook openings, but I'm confident."

The sound of drums and flutes filled the air as the battle began. Sugai made the first move, calling out, "Let's go. 5-8 Rook."

Toshima said, "I didn't expect you to start with the Rook," and responded with a standard "8-4 Pawn."

Under the command of these top-tier shogi masters, about 40 middle and high school students dressed in armor moved around the giant board.

The intense battle, set against the magnificent Himeji Castle, ended with Toshima's West Army emerging victorious.

It rained on the first day of the two-day event, forcing the game to be held indoors at the Hakuro Elementary and Junior High School gymnasium. Despite that, 10,000 spectators attended over both days.

Other Regions with Human Shogi

Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture is also famous for its human shogi. The region is known for being the biggest producer of shogi pieces in Japan.

The human shogi event in Tendo has been held every April since 1956, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, attracting fans from across the country.

*Over 10,000 people attended the event near at Himeji Castle across two days.*

Human shogi at Himeji Castle began in 2015 to mark the castle's major repairs. A similar event has been held in Sekigahara Town, Gifu Prefecture, since 2017, at the site of the historic 1600 Battle of Sekigahara.

A Samurai Strategist's Philosophy

The origins of human shogi trace back to the Sengoku period. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is said to have played a casual game of shogi at Fushimi Castle using young attendants as human pieces.

Human shogi has a unique rule not found in regular shogi: All pieces must be moved at least once. Captured pieces can also be used by the opponent as their own. This rule reflects the philosophy of Kuroda Kanbei, a samurai strategist, who believed "people should be saved, not killed."

Even for the professional shogi players acting as commanders, the event was a stimulating experience. Reflecting on the battle, Toshima said, "It was a wonderful experience. Since I had to move all the pieces, I used more brainpower than in a regular game."

Sugai, who played human shogi for the first time, shared, "It's been a while since I've played in front of such a large crowd. It really made me focus."

Author: Yukiko Yokoyama, The Sankei Shimbun

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