Course Programs

2025

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

Code:G2B46207 / Instructor:SENGOKU Yu

Course Description

Shogi is a traditional Japanese cultural game with a history spanning over 1,000 years. This course explores Shogi in comparison with similar games from various countries and examines the broader gaming culture surrounding Shogi. Students will learn the rules of Shogi, how the pieces move, methods of determining win and defeat, and strategic formations. Additionally, students will engage in actual shogi matches.
The course also covers the history of Shogi, etiquette (manners), its connection to computer science, and insights into the professional shogi world.
Furthermore, this course incorporates intercultural collaborative learning, where domestic and international students learn together. Intercultural collaborative learning is an educational approach in which students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds engage in cooperative learning, recognizing and integrating their differences.
The course will be conducted in both Japanese and English.
This course is offered with the cooperation of the Japan Shogi Association (公益財団法人 日本将棋連盟).

Keywords

Shogi, Board Games, Japanese Culture, Computer Science, Intercultural Collaborative Learning, Global, Group Work

Course Plan

1. History of Shogi & Shogi as Japanese Culture (Part 1) – Etiquette, board and pieces
2. Explanation of Rules
3. Match ① – 5656 Shogi and Dobutsu Shogi (Animal Shogi)
4. Shogi Around the World & Comparison with Other Board Games
5. Opening Strategies & Castles (Part 1)
6. Match ② – Traditional Shogi (Hon-Shogi)
7. Opening Strategies & Castles (Part 2)
8. Match ③
9. History of Shogi & Shogi as Japanese Culture (Part 2) – The professional world of Shogi
10. Problem-Solving Exercises (Tsume-Shogi & Next Move Problems) ①
11. Match ④
12. Analysis of Famous Shogi Games
13. Computer Science and Shogi
14. Problem-Solving Exercises (Tsume-Shogi & Next Move Problems) ②
15. Reflection & Course Survey (Last 15 minutes)

Note: The course content may change depending on progress. Assignment deadlines will be announced.