[Yamagata Prefecture] Why did "Shogi" become a specialty of Tendo City? Explore its origins and history!

Yamagata Prefecture is a place full of attractions, including hot springs, fruits, and ramenShogi in Tendo CityHowever, even if people have a vague idea of ​​what shogi is, I think there are few people who know why it is so famous

So, this time we will introduce the origins of shogi, the history of how Tendo became a famous shogi production area, and spots where you can learn more about the appeal of shogi

---

Tendo City = "Shogi Town"

Tendo City is famous as the "town of shogi"The city's catchphrase is "Tendo, the hot spring town, is the perfect place for your trip" he is promoting shogiTendo City produces over 90% of the shogi pieces in JapanIt is a major production area

In spring, with cherry blossoms falling,Human Shogi", and in the fall, the Olympics of the shogi world "International Shogi FestivalEvents such as "Shogi Tournament" are held here, making it a holy place for shogi fans

---

What is the origin of shogi?

Shogi is a board game that has been known in Japan for a long time, but where exactly did it come from? Let's go back in time to the origins of shogi itself

---

Shogi's origins lie in Chaturanga

The origin of shogi is the "ChaturangaChaturanga is a game in which players place pieces such as Raja (king), Gaja (elephant), and Ashwa (horse) on a board with 8 squares (vertical x horizontal), for a total of 64 squares, and devise strategies to fight to capture the king

The format is similar in that players use their own pieces on the board to capture the opponent's king, and it is believed that chess was introduced from Chaturanga to the West and Shogi to the East

---

"Shogi" comes from "Shogi"

The oldest document showing that shogi was played in Japan is a record from 1058 during the Heian period, which shows that shogi was introduced to Japan a long time agoShogiIt was apparently called "

However, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the words "elephants playing" were deemed inappropriate for a samuraiThe elephant changed to the character for "sho" (general), and "gi" (play) became "ki" (game) during the Horeki and Genroku erasIt is said that..

---

Why did shogi become famous in Tendo City?

Tendo city became a shogi piece production center during the Edo period. In fact, shogi pieces were originally manufactured in Takahata, not Tendo

In the late Edo period,Yoshida Daihachi was a servant of the Tendo Oda clan and was active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji RestorationHowever, as a means of providing relief to the struggling samurai, the production of chess pieces was encouraged, and the industry shifted to Tendo

The chess piece industry, which took root in Tendo as a home-based business for samurai, became increasingly mechanized from the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period, making it possible to produce high-quality, inexpensive chess pieces, and it is said to have become one of the leading production areas in the country

---

Two spots where you can experience shogi culture

There are many spots throughout Tendo City where you can experience shogi culture. We will introduce two recommended spots this time, so please use them as a reference for your sightseeing

---

Tendo City Shogi Museum

The Tendo City Shogi Museum is located on the first floor of Tendo Station, and is a museum where you can learn all about shogi, including the history of shogi itself and the connection between Tendo City and shogi

You can take a good look at the works of shogi craftsmen, the shogi boards used in the Kamakura period, and the process of making the pieces. The admission fee is reasonable at 320 yen per adult, so if you stop by before starting your sightseeing in the Tendo area, you'll be able to fully experience the charm of the town of shogi

INFORMATION

---

• Name: Tendo City Shogi Museum
• Address: 1-1-1 Honmachi, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Phone number: 023-653-1690
• Official URL: Tendo City Shogi Museum website

GOOGLE MAP

---

---

Tendo Station area

When you leave Tendo Station and head into the city, you will see shogi-themed objects set up everywhere"Shogi puzzles" embedded in sidewalks and utility polesAfter racking your brains and walking, enjoying the hot springs and gourmet food is something special

There are also other objects with a shogi motif, and if you go to the city's tourist facilities,KOMAPYou will receive a tourist guidebook called "Web Tourism TendoPlease see

---

Enjoy shogi culture in Tendo City!

This time, we introduced the origins of shogi, the history of how Tendo became a famous shogi production area, and spots where you can learn more about the appeal of shogi. There are also many places that can be enjoyed even by people who don't know shogi, so why not go to Tendo and experience shogi culture for yourself?

---