Professional shogi players play a game by using humans who dressed in samurai armor likened to shogi pieces. People come and go on a huge shogi board. In Tendo City, “Ningen Shogi (human shogi)” is a traditional event in spring.

Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, has the most massive production of shogi pieces in Japan. The industry of shogi manufacture in Tendo is originated in the Edo period when a samurai of the Tendo Domain started making shogi pieces as a side job. “Ningen Shogi” is held at the top of Mt. Maizuru during the “Tendo Sakura Festival” in late April every year.

Shogi is a type of board game called “Chaturanga” in ancient India, like chess. It is believed to be introduced to Japan around the 8th century. Two players will play a game against each other by using 8 different pieces on a square board with 81 rectangles.

The origin of “Ningen Shogi” is said that in the 15th century, Hideyoshi Toyotomi enjoyed playing shogi game with Hidetsugu using pages and maids as pieces.

In Tendo City, “Ningen Shogi” held in April every year is very famous, and 120,000 shogi fans and tourists visit Tendo from all over Japan. Samurai warriors dressed in armor become Shogi pieces. They travel on the huge Shogi board with the instructions of professional shogi players. On the stage of Mt. Maizuru, where 2000 cherry trees are in full bloom, this scenery just looks like a picture roll in old time.

Because Tendo City has the highest production of shogi pieces, you can find many shogi piece monuments, such as post box, giboshi (ornament) of bridges. Even more amazingly, there is a footpath of Tsume shogi (shogi puzzle).

At JR Tendo Station, there is the “Shogi Museum” where you can get a general knowledge about shogi, including its history. Also, at “Shogi room,” anyone can enjoy playing shogi.

Access to Tendo Park

It takes about 3 hours from JR Tokyo Station to JR Tendo Station by Yamagata Shinkansen. Get off at JR Tendo Station and walk about 10 minutes from JR Tendo Station to Tendo Onsen. It is about 5-minute walk from Tendo Onsen to Tendo Park.