How to Start Shogi: A 30-Day Roadmap for Complete Beginners
You want to start shogi but don't know the order. A 2-dan lays out the exact 30-day path: free rules, a checkmate app, your first real game, and when to finally buy a book.
Shogi
Shogi, the Japanese chess where captured pieces fight back. Openings, tsume problems, and boards built to last.
11 articles
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Shogi Wars Game Modes Explained: What to Play First (from a 2-Dan)
Shogi Wars has five game modes and explains none of them. A 2-dan who's played all five breaks down 10 min, 3 min, 10 seconds, Sprint, and Mate Battle, plus the order to practice them in.
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How to Play Shogi Online: The App Japan Actually Uses
Want to play shogi online? Shogi Wars is the shogi game most of Japan uses — how to switch it to English with screenshots, plus free-tier limits and paid tiers, from a 2-dan player.
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Gifts for Shogi Players: From First Set to Tendo Craftsmanship (2026)
A 2-dan player's gift guide to shogi: what to buy a chess fan or anime fan who's curious, what to buy someone who already plays, and what to avoid entirely.
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Shogi in Japan: Where to Play, Watch, and Buy the Real Thing
A resident 2-dan player's guide to shogi in Japan: Tokyo's new Shogi Kaikan dojo, the piece-carving town of Tendo, title-match commentary events, and how to buy the real thing from anywhere.
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Shogi On Screen: March Comes In Like a Lion and the Real Game Behind It
What March Comes In Like a Lion gets right about professional shogi: the pro system, the Shoreikai, title matches, the sound of the room. Explained by a 2-dan amateur, with other shogi anime to know.
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Three Shogi Openings for Your First Games
A 2-dan explains the two big families of shogi openings and three beginner-friendly choices: Climbing Silver, Fourth-File Rook, and Central Rook. Plans and ideas first, memorized move lists later.
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How to Learn Shogi from Scratch: A 2-Dan's Beginner Guide
Learn shogi from zero, no Japanese required. A 2-dan player based in Japan walks you through the board, all eight pieces, promotion, drops, checkmate, and how to play your first game this week.
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Tsume Shogi for Beginners: Your First Checkmate Puzzles
Tsume shogi is the checkmate puzzle every shogi player trains on. A 2-dan explains the rules, how they differ from chess mate-in-N, a worked one-move example, and how a beginner should start.
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Shogi for Chess Players: The Game Where Captured Pieces Fight Back
Shogi in chess terms, from the shogi side of the board by a 2-dan player who also plays chess: what transfers, the drop rule that breaks chess instincts, and how to start this week.
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The Shogi Set Buying Guide: What a 2-Dan Player Actually Recommends
Every shogi set worth buying on Amazon right now, reviewed by a 2-dan player based in Japan — what to pay for, what to skip, and why you don't need romanized pieces.
