Annual Human Shogi Match

Picture courtesy of Mainichi


Shogi, the equivalent of ‘Japanese chess’ is a delightful medium to watch the beauty of strategy, wits and deceit being put into action. Now, imagine watching this board game being played with real human pieces!


The people of Yamagata prefecture must certainly enjoy this more complicated form of chess to have an annual human shogi match that’s held on top of Mount Maizuru in Tendo, where the art of war can be conducted while enjoying the cherry blossom season. Ahhh, if only all wars can be fought like this - dressed up soldiers amongst falling cherry petals and no casualties…


The students are dressed up in traditional samurai armour whist holding their represented Shogi piece on a 16.6 metre by 13.8-metre Shogi board. The pieces are led by their commanders who are two female professional Shogi players, 17 year old high school player Kana Satomi, and 20 year old second-dan player Hatsumi Ueda. I’m sure the soldiers felt secure under their leadership.


But, like in any battle, there can only be one victor. The match ended with Kana Satomi defeating Hatsumi Ueda.

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Source:
Mainichi via TokyoMango

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