english

Shogi pieces

At the beginning of the game, each player has twenty pieces.

The shogiban accommodates forty pieces.

The komadai is empty.

There are no white and black pieces. The player of higher rank, the elder, or the master uses Osho. The player of lower rank, the younger, or the apprentice uses Gyokusho.

The player who moves first is determined by a draw.

Sente is the player who moves first. Gote moves second.

english

Shape and color

The pieces (koma) have a slightly elongated pentagonal shape.

The base of the pentagon faces the owner, while the tip faces the opponent.

Pieces have no color because they can be captured and reused by the opponent.

The name of the piece is written with one or two kanji characters in the center of the piece. Pieces can be promoted, and the name of the promoted piece is written on the back of the same piece. Some sets of pieces use the color red to identify the promoted name. Promotion is done by flipping the piece.

Osho, Gyokusho, and Kinsho cannot be promoted.

Knowing how to read kanji is not necessary; recognizing them as if they were drawings is sufficient.