To celebrate the first London edition of the Inter City Shogi Cup 2026, The Japan Society is delighted to invite members and friends to an evening of in-conversation and reception hosted by Warwick Business School (WBS) at their London base in the iconic Shard building. Held over the same weekend as the tournament, this event marks the start of an exciting few days for Shogi in the UK.

The evening will feature an in-conversation session with certified shogi (Japanese Chess) instructors (shido kishi, 指導棋士), Yasushi Ishikawa and Tetsuaki Sanada. They will explore the history and cultural significance of Shogi, share personal experiences from their rigorous training within the Japan Shogi Association’s professional apprentice school (Shoreikai, 奨励会), and reflect on the challenges and discipline involved in pursuing mastery in this traditional Japanese strategy game. They will also discuss their ongoing work to promote Shogi internationally, particularly across Europe, drawing on their teaching experiences and community‑building efforts. Attendees will gain practical insights as both instructors offer accessible tips on improving one’s own Shogi strategy and how you can apply this strategic thinking to business.

Following the in-conversation, guests are invited to enjoy a networking reception on the 13th floor of the Shard, offering spectacular views over the River Thames and the City of London.

Please note that this event is suitable only for those over 18. Due to building security protocols, all attendees must register in advance and bring valid ID to access the venue.

Born in 1988, Tetsuaki Sanada started learning shogi at the age of six and, after winning a national junior tournament in 2002, joined the Japan Shogi Association’s professional apprentice school, Shoreikai that same year. He left Shoreikai in 2011 at the rank of 2-dan. In 2024, he was certified as a Teaching Professional (Shidō Kishi) 3-dan by the Japan Shogi Association. He currently lives in the UK and works for a Japanese manufacturing company whilst also working to promote shogi in Europe and inspire players to improve their gameplay.

Born in February 1994, Yasushi Ishikawa started learning shogi at the age of six. He spent eight years (2007–2015) training in the Japan Shogi Association’s professional apprentice school, Shoreikai (奨励会), where he reached the rank of 3-dan. In 2023, he was certified as a Teaching Professional (Shidō Kishi) 4-dan by the Japan Shogi Association. He conducts shogi promotion activities both in person and online, with a strong focus on spreading the game overseas—especially throughout Europe.

Kohtaro Hirota developed a strong interest in international cultures early on, inspired by his love for UK and US music. After studying English at school, he started working in Japan and added French to his language skills when he relocated to Brussels in 2009, to start his international career at Deloitte Belgium. In 2014, he moved to London to work for Deloitte UK and has since worked at BIG4 accounting firms. He joined Blick Rothenberg—one of the UK’s top 10 tax firms—in July 2023, where he established and headed up the Japan Desk to provide comprehensive tax and accounting services to Japanese businesses and individuals operating in the UK. Following the strong growth and success of the Japan Desk, he left Blick Rothenberg to launch his own tax advisory practice from May 2026, continuing to provide UK tax advisory services for mainly Japanese clients.

Sarah Parsons lived in Gunma, Japan for 3 years and then worked for the Japanese Government in London. She has trained and worked as a teacher in the UK and has been a Senior Teaching Fellow lecturing on Japanese Business, Management, Economy and Finance at SOAS and the University of Sheffield. She also was UK Chair of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association for 5 years and was awarded a Commendation from the Japanese Ambassador to the UK for her commitment to UK-Japan cultural links. Sarah founded her company, East West Interface to foster Japan-UK understanding in business, education and culture. She is currently supporting Warwick Business School with Japan-related alumni and B2B activities.

*The Shard is the London base of Warwick Business School, home to several of WBS’s P/T MBA classes, Executive Education, and more recently, the Warwick Enterprise start-up programme.

Booking info

• Providing Details in the Booking Form 
  To comply with building security requirements, all attendees must register in advance and present valid photo ID on arrival. Please ensure you enter the full legal name of each attendee in the booking form exactly as it appears on their ID.
  
  
• Age requirements  
  
  This event is only suitable for aged 18 or over. 
  
  
• Booking Confirmation 
  You should receive an automated email from The Japan Society confirming your booking. If you don't receive any confirmation emails, please check your spam folder or email events@japansociety.org.uk. We will send you the details to attend the event closer to the date. 
  
  
• Booking Deadline: 4 Monday 2026
  If you are no longer able to attend, you must let us know as early as possible so your place can be offered to someone on the waiting list.
  
  
• Waiting List 
  If tickets are sold out, you can sign up for the Waiting List. We will contact you if a spot becomes available.