[Yamagata Prefecture] Why did “Shogi” become a specialty in Tendo City? Explore the origin and history!

Yamagata Prefecture is a place full of charm, with hot springs, fruit, and ramen. And one of the attractions is “ Shogi in Tendo City” can be mentioned. However, even if you have a vague image of shogi, I don't think many people know why shogi is so famous.

Therefore, this time we will introduce the origin of shogi, the history of Tendo City becoming a famous shogi production area, and spots where you can learn more about the charm of shogi.

Tendo City = “Shogi Town”

Tendo City is famous as the ``Shogi City''And the city's catchphrase is "Tendo, the town of hot springs, for your trip”, promoting shogi. actually Tendo City produces over 90% of shogi pieces nationwide.It is a major production area.

In the spring, when cherry blossoms are falling,human shogi”, and the Shogi World Olympics will be held in the fall.International Shogi Festival” and other events are held here, making it a sacred 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 did it come from? Let's go back to the origins of shogi itself.

The origin of shogi is Chaturanga

The origin of shogi is ``Shogi'', which was popular in ancient India.chaturangaIt is said that there is. Chaturanga is a game in which pieces such as raja (king), gaja (elephant), and ashwa (horse) are placed on a board of 64 squares (8 vertically x 8 horizontally), and players devise a strategy and fight to take the king.

The format of the game is similar to that of using the pieces you have on the board to capture the enemy's king, and chaturanga is said to have been introduced to the west as chess, and shogi was introduced to the east as shogi.

"Shogi" originates from "Zougi"

The oldest document showing that shogi was played in Japan was written in 1058 during the Heian period, which shows that shogi was introduced a long time ago. At that time, it was introduced from China. Elephant playIt is said that it was called by the name ``.

However, in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, the character ``elephant plays'' was considered unsuitable for a samurai.The word ``elephant'' changed to the character ``sho'' for general, and ``gi'' became ``ki'' during the Horeki and Genroku periods.It is said that

Why did shogi become famous in Tendo City?

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

Late Edo period, at that timeDaihachi Yoshida was a servant in the Tendo Oda domain and was active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji Restoration.However, the industry moved to Tendo after recommending the production of pieces as a relief for feudal retainers who were struggling with poverty.

The piece industry, which took root in Tendo based on the samurai's side jobs, is said to have become one of the leading production areas in Japan as mechanization progressed from the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period, making it possible to manufacture high-quality and inexpensive pieces. I am.

2 spots where you can feel the shogi culture

There are spots all over Tendo City where you can feel the shogi culture. This time we will introduce two recommended spots, so please use them as reference for sightseeing.

Tendo City Shogi Museum

The Tendo City Shogi Museum is located on the 1st floor of Tendo Station, and is a museum where you can learn everything about shogi, including the history of shogi itself and the connection between Tendo City and shogi.

You can take a close look at the work of the piece 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 you start sightseeing in the Tendo area, you'll be able to fully experience the charm of the shogi town.

INFORMATION

• Name: Tendo City Shogi Museum
• Address: 1-1-1 Honmachi, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Phone number: 023-653-1690
• Official URL: Tendo City Shogi Museum homepage

GOOGLE MAP

Tendo station area

When you go out into the city from Tendo Station, you will see objects with shogi motifs installed everywhere. Particularly interesting are the "Tsume Shogi" embedded in sidewalks and telephone polesis. The hot springs and gourmet food you'll enjoy after gathering all your wits while walking are exceptional.

There are other objects with shogi motifs, and you can see them at tourist facilities in the city.KOMAPYou will receive a tourist guidebook called ``. For more information web sightseeing guidePlease refer to the.

Enjoy shogi culture in Tendo City!

This time, we introduced the origin of shogi, the history of Tendo City becoming a famous shogi production area, and spots where you can learn more about the appeal of shogi. There are many places where you can enjoy shogi even if you don't know anything about it, so why not go to Tendo on your own and get a feel for the shogi culture?