The Japan Society is delighted to host a shogi workshop led by Yasushi Ishikawa, an expert instructor and certified Teaching Professional 4-dan. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the captivating world of shogi, the traditional Japanese strategy board game often referred to as Japanese chess.

With a history spanning over a thousand years, shogi is a dynamic and deeply strategic game played on a 9×9 board, with each player controlling twenty pieces. The aim is to capture your opponent’s king—but with a twist: captured pieces don’t leave the game. Instead, they switch sides and can be reintroduced to the board as your own, creating endless possibilities and thrilling turnarounds. Shogi shares similarities with Western chess but introduces distinctive features such as piece promotion and the exciting drop rule, which keeps the game fluid and rarely ends in a draw. Once predominantly played in Japan, shogi is now gaining popularity across the globe, thanks to its rich heritage, unique mechanics, and endlessly engaging gameplay.

This workshop offers two sessions tailored to different skill levels.

• Beginners' Session (10:30am - 12:30pm)
Learn the basics, play friendly matches, and enjoy bite-sized lessons throughout. This session is open to anyone new to the game, including families. Participants in the Beginners' Session will receive a portable shogi board and a set of pieces to take home. 

• Mid-Advanced Session (1:30pm - 3:30pm)
Dive deeper into strategy with lectures on openings, midgame, and endgame tactics, along with guided or peer-to-peer matches.

Whether you're new to shogi or looking to sharpen your skills, this is a unique opportunity to learn, play, and connect with fellow enthusiasts. No prior experience is required for the beginners’ session.

Born in February 1994, Yasushi Ishikawa learned 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.

Booking info

• Providing Details in the Booking Form
  Please enter the full name and email address for each attendee in the booking form. If you're booking as a member, please provide the email address associated with your membership so we can match your information in our system.
  
  
• Participants under the age of 18 
  This workshop is open to families; however, those under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This event is unsuitable for under 8.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Cancellation Policy
  The cancellation deadline for this event is noon Friday 3 October 2025. If you cancel your place(s) after this time, we will attempt to resell your ticket(s). If we are unable to resell your ticket(s) unfortunately we will not be able to offer a refund.
  
  
• Waiting List
  If tickets are sold out, you can sign up for the Waiting List. We will contact you if a spot becomes available.