Japanese Culture Seminar: The Appeal of Shogi (Japanese Chess)

Shogi has been part of traditional Japanese culture for over 1,000 years. In this course, students shall compare shogi with distantly-related games from other countries and study the game culture related to shogi. They shall learn shogi rules, piece movements, victory conditions, and defensive strategies and play actual matches. They shall also study the history and etiquette of shogi, its relationship with computer science, and the world of professional chess players.
This course partially incorporates international collaborative learning, where domestic and international students undergo joint learning. International collaborative learning recognizes differences in languages and cultural backgrounds through cooperation and learning from each other.
Japanese and English languages will be used.
This course is conducted in cooperation with the Japan Shogi Association.

Shogi, Board Games, Japanese Culture, Computers, International Collaborative Learning, Global, Group Work

1. History of Shogi and Shogi as Japanese Culture (1) (Etiquette, board pieces)
2. Rule Explanation
3. Game Play (1) (5656 Shogi or Animal Shogi)
4. Shogi Around the World, Comparison with Board Games from Various Countries
5. Opening Patterns and Defensive Formations (1)
6. Game Play (2) (Standard Shogi)
7. Opening Patterns and Defensive Formations (2)
8. Game Play (3)
9. History of Shogi and Shogi as Japanese Culture (2) (Professional World)
10. Problem Practice (Shogi problems, next move) (1)
11. Game Play (4)
12. Commentary on Famous Games
13. Computer Science and Shogi
14. Problem Practice (Shogi problems, next move) (2)
15. Review, Class Questionnaire (Final 15 minutes)

Note: The sequence is subject to change.

Syllabus (Japanese site only)