Kumonshuppan New Study Shogi Japanese Chess Pieces

Shogi is incredibly intimidating to the beginning player: all the pieces with unfamiliar writing, and most of them are double sided, and each side moves differently. Even with a reference sheet it's hard to learn.This set makes it super easy to learn by printing the moves directly on the pieces, so there is never any confusion. The rules are in Japanese, but you can find the rules online anywhere. In fact, if you're familiar with any games in the chess family you could probably look at the box for the initial setup and then figure out the rest on your own.The set itself is wonderful to touch and use. The pieces are thick but light, and they make a pleasant CLACK when placed on the board. You get a container for all the pieces which doubles as a place to put captured pieces, and the whole thing folds into a case.My 9 year old and I play this all the time, and thanks to the moves printed on the pieces he's been able to teach a number of people how to play on his own.

The media could not be loaded. Love this game. Very good quality. Nice product.

As this is a Japanese import, the included documentation is of no use to you unless you read Japanese. That said, this is still the perfect way for anyone to learn to play shogi. The diagrams in the instruction manual are still capable of showing you how to set up the board, but the most important aspect of this set is that the allowable moves are shown on each individual piece. It doesn't really matter whether you've memorized the names of the pieces yet or have learned to identify the names by the Japanese characters printed on them: you just need to look at each piece and you immediately know where it can go. Obviously, it's necessary to read the rules elsewhere if you can't read the Japanese text, as there are subtle but important differences between shogi and chess, but anyone who already knows how to play chess will be able to start playing shogi immediately with very little difficulty.

A wonderful product that makes me wish they sold more over here. The ONLY complaint I have is that EVERYTHING is in Japanese, but as this is a Japanese game made by a Japanese company marketed towards Japanese children it's really not worth getting riled up at - ESPECIALLY since the pictures are detailed enough that I can at the very least get a good understanding of the basic rules and initial setup. The board is sturdy - including the lock - and everything is in general quite well made. If you're looking for a chess variant to learn/teach to your kids, I thoroughly recommend getting this set to start with. And I wish that Kumon had more of a presence in the States now.

Pros:The board is a good size, sturdy, and solid with a very nice latch on it that I'd trust to stay closed. It looks and feels like it would hold up well to the task of common travel. It also comes with a small box to contain the pieces when the board is closed that also doubles as two mini-tables to place the pieces on.The pieces themselves are wooden and have a nice feel and heft to them. All the printings is well done and clear with the unit's common symbol and available moves. It's easy to tell what each piece can do at a glance.The instruction manual that comes with it teaches the game and gives a little strategy guidance as well. It is in Japanese though, so if you can't read it you'll have to look elsewhere to learn to play. That's not so bad as a quick Youtube search can yield you some great tutorials and strategy guides.Some minor cons:The board I received wobbled when it was set up. I had a small chit that was laying around that I placed under the uneven side and this fixed the problem. So I just store the chit in the box for when I get the board out again.Other than that, it would've been nice if there were dividers on the inside of the board to hold the mini-box in place while the board is folded up for travel. As it is now, the mini-box slides around a little noisily if you shift the center of balance. I put a bit of foam in there to hold it to one side so it stays in place.I wouldn't call this a complaint but figured I'd mention it. Normal Shogi pieces vary in size by piece strength. Pawns smaller, Generals larger, and Rook/Bishop largest, etc. All of the pieces in this set are the same size. I'm not sure if it's a design choice or not. They probably wanted more space to print the moveset that each of the units have, so I can't fault them for this choice.Conclusion:This board isn't to be a centerpiece to decorate your table. It's sturdy and functional and looks like it will hold up well for travel and such.All in all a great set to introduce someone to Shogi with, familiarize them with seeing the characters, and allowing them to see how the pieces move at a glance. I would recommend this set if you're looking to get someone into the game. Once you've got them them, or yourself, hooked you can pick up some more standard pieces for cheap and carry on from there.I would definitely recommend.

This is still one of the best beginner boards you can get but now they are selling a newer model that's flat and doesn't hold the shogi shelf inside of the board. One of the perks of these boards is that the wood is not stained and not sealed so you can customize it with any wood stain color/clear coat you prefer. Even though the older model is still my preference this board is fantastic for beginners.