Japan Shogi Association

The Japan Shogi Association, commonly abbreviated as JSA and known in Japanese as Nihon Shogi Renmei, is the principal professional organization for shogi in Japan. Shogi is a traditional Japanese strategy board game often described as Japanese chess. The association coordinates the professional shogi system, establishes the annual competition calendar, administers or supports major title tournaments, negotiates media and sponsorship arrangements, manages professional and apprentice-player systems, publishes shogi material, and promotes the game as both a cultural practice and a competitive discipline. The JSA emerged from the consolidation of several professional shogi organizations in the early twentieth century. Before modern institutional organization, professional shogi was largely structured around three hereditary schools associated with the Ōhashi main family, the Ōhashi branch family, and the Itō family. These schools had benefited from the Tokugawa shogunate and exercised authority over the Meijin title and professional hierarchy. Their influence declined after the Meiji Restoration, and by the early twentieth century professional players were divided among competing groups, particularly in eastern and western Japan. On September 8, 1924, major Tokyo-based player groups united to form the Tokyo Shogi Federation. The organization was renamed Nihon Shogi Renmei in 1927. A further split arose in the mid-1930s over professional promotion policy, but eastern and western groups were reunited in 1936 through the creation of the Shogi Consolidation Association. This unified body made it possible to establish a tournament-based, nonhereditary route to the Meijin title. Yoshio Kimura became the first Meijin produced through that modern competitive system in 1937. The organization adopted the name Nihon Shogi Renmei again in 1947 and became a legally incorporated membership association in 1949. The JSA's institutional role extends beyond tournament administration. It represents professional players, supervises the apprentice system through which prospective professionals qualify, trains and certifies teaching professionals, arranges professional appearances, supplies game records and commentary to media organizations, and operates or supports public shogi facilities and instructional programs. It also publishes Shogi World, a monthly magazine, books, game records, and other educational or archival material. In collaboration with Mynavi Publishing, it formerly issued Weekly Shogi, whose publication ended in 2016 as the media environment changed. The association operates from its headquarters in Tokyo and maintains important regional facilities, including the Kansai Shogi Kaikan in Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture, and a northern office in Sapporo. A promotion office serves the Tokai region from Nagoya. After a decision to address the aging Tokyo headquarters, the association completed a move to a new facility near Sendagaya Station in 2024, marking the organization's centenary. The Kansai facility was also relocated from Osaka to Takatsuki as part of a modernization project. The JSA promotes shogi internationally through recognized overseas chapters, international tournaments, professional exhibitions, educational activity, and support for online play. It has sponsored the International Shogi Forum on a recurring basis since 1999 and has supported overseas matches connected with the Ryuo title tournament. Its digital activities include an official website, mobile content, a YouTube channel, Shogi Club 24, and support for the 81Dojo international shogi server. In 2025, Ichiyo Shimizu became the association's first woman president, a notable development in the governance history of a professional system that has historically had separate categories for professional players and women professional players.

Professional shogi was historically organized through an iemoto-style system centered on three hereditary schools: the Ōhashi main school, the Ōhashi branch school, and the Itō school. These families received support from the Tokugawa shogunate and controlled the professional world, including the hereditary Meijin title. The system weakened after the Meiji Restoration. By the death of Sōin Itō, the eighth head of the Itō school and the eleventh hereditary Meijin, in 1893, the traditional families no longer exercised effective control over the whole shogi community. By 1921, three major professional groups operated in Tokyo: the Tokyo Shogi Club led by Kinjirō Sekine, the Tokyo Shogi Alliance led by Ichitaro Doi, and the Tokyo Shogi Research Association led by Kumao Ōsaki. Western Japan maintained separate organizations. On September 8, 1924, Tokyo's principal groups united to create the Tokyo Shogi Federation. Doi became president and Sekine honorary president. In 1927 the federation adopted the name Nihon Shogi Renmei. Leadership subsequently moved between Doi, Sekine, and Yasujirō Kon. Institutional unity did not immediately last. In 1935, a western organization called the Japan Shogi Reform Society separated from the eastern body following a dispute concerning Tatsunosuke Kanda's promotion to eighth dan. The divided organizations reunited in 1936, together with a third western group associated with Kanda, to form the Shogi Consolidation Association. Sekine served as president. The consolidation created the institutional conditions for a competitive, nonhereditary Meijin tournament. Yoshio Kimura won the first such Meijin title in 1937 and succeeded Sekine as president in 1938. In 1947, the organization again adopted the name Nihon Shogi Renmei. It became a legally incorporated membership association in 1949. The postwar association developed into the central administrative and commercial institution for professional shogi. Its work came to include the professional calendar, title matches, media contracts, player membership, apprentice training, teaching certification, publications, public classes, and professional appearances. The JSA also developed regional offices and facilities to support players and events outside Tokyo. Its Kansai operations became centered on the Kansai Shogi Kaikan, while Sapporo and Nagoya supported northern and Tokai activities respectively. The association's public-interest status changed on April 1, 2011, when it was registered as a Public Interest Incorporated Association under Japanese law. This followed its earlier status as a membership association, held since July 29, 1949. The JSA marked its eighty-first anniversary in 2005, a symbolic reference to the eighty-one squares on a shogi board. In the digital era, the JSA expanded beyond printed game records and traditional media arrangements. It established online news and live-game services, maintained an official video presence, operated Shogi Club 24, and supported the international 81Dojo server. The organization continued publishing Shogi World while its jointly produced Weekly Shogi ended in 2016. Facilities became a significant strategic issue in the 2010s and 2020s. The Tokyo headquarters, built in 1976, was increasingly difficult to maintain. A committee examined alternatives, and members approved relocation at the June 2019 general meeting. The new headquarters near Sendagaya Station was unveiled in September 2024 and opened to the public the following month as part of the association's centenary program. The Kansai office was also slated for relocation to Takatsuki, where the planned building would offer improved playing conditions, a television studio, and upgraded public and professional facilities. Internationally, the JSA recognizes and supports shogi chapters and federations in many countries. Since 1999 it has organized the International Shogi Forum at recurring intervals, combining tournaments, professional exhibitions, equipment displays, and cultural exchange. Ryuo title matches have also occasionally been staged outside Japan. In June 2025, Ichiyo Shimizu became the first woman to serve as JSA president, adding a major institutional milestone to the association's long development.

• 2025

  First woman president elected

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Ichiyo Shimizu became the first woman president of the Japan Shogi Association.

• 2024

  New Tokyo headquarters opens

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association completed its headquarters relocation and opened the new facility to the public during its centenary year.

• 2016

  Weekly Shogi publication ends

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The jointly published weekly newspaper ended after changes in the media market.

• 2011

  Public-interest status obtained

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The JSA was registered as a Public Interest Incorporated Association on April 1.

• 1999

  International Shogi Forum begins

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The JSA began a recurring international forum combining tournaments, exhibitions, and cultural exchange.

• 1949

  Legal incorporation

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association became a legally incorporated membership association.

• 1937

  First nonhereditary Meijin tournament

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Yoshio Kimura became the first Meijin produced through the modern competitive, nonhereditary system.

• 1936

  Professional groups consolidated

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Competing eastern and western organizations merged into the Shogi Consolidation Association.

• 1927

  Organization renamed Nihon Shogi Renmei

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Tokyo Shogi Federation changed its name to Nihon Shogi Renmei.

• 1924

  Tokyo Shogi Federation established

  [1]Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Tokyo-based professional shogi groups united on September 8, creating the earliest institutional form of the modern Japan Shogi Association.

Japan's central professional shogi institution and cultural promoter, combining sports-style competition governance, player development, publishing, media coordination, and international cultural exchange.

• Professional title tournament

  Meijin-sen

  One of professional shogi's principal title competitions. The Meijin system is historically important because it helped replace hereditary control of the Meijin title with a competitive qualification and championship structure.

• Professional title tournament

  Ryuo-sen

  A major professional title tournament administered and promoted within the JSA's competition system. Matches associated with the title have periodically been held outside Japan as part of the association's international outreach.

• Monthly magazine

  Shogi World

  The JSA's continuing monthly shogi magazine, carrying game records, professional commentary, instructional material, news, and broader coverage of the shogi world.

• Online shogi platform

  Shogi Club 24

  An online shogi playing service owned and operated by the JSA, extending the association's role into Internet-based play and player interaction.

• International tournament and cultural event · 1999

  International Shogi Forum

  A recurring international event featuring individual and team competitions, professional and women-professional exhibitions, shogi equipment displays, and exchange activities involving overseas federations and Japanese representatives.

• Player development and certification

  Professional and teaching certification

  The JSA manages the professional membership framework and apprentice pathway and trains or certifies teaching professionals who provide instruction and help spread shogi in Japan and internationally.

• 2024Centenary headquarters opening program

  Japan

  The JSA used its centenary celebrations to unveil and open its new Tokyo headquarters, including public events and a commemorative tournament.

  Outcome. The new facility opened to the public on October 1, 2024.

  Source
• 1999International Shogi Forum

  Japan · International

  The JSA launched a recurring international forum to connect Japanese professionals with overseas shogi federations through tournaments, exhibitions, instruction, and cultural exchange.

  Outcome. The forum became a continuing vehicle for international shogi promotion and was held in Japan and France in subsequent editions.

  Source

• 2021

  Relocation plan for Kansai officeStrategy

  Background

  The existing Kansai office in Osaka faced facility and cost constraints, while the popularity of professional shogi increased demand for better infrastructure.

  Action taken

  The JSA announced a move to property owned by Takatsuki City in neighboring Takatsuki.

  Aftermath

  The planned facility was designed to improve playing conditions and add a television studio and other modern functions.

  Source

• 2019

  Approval of Tokyo headquarters relocationStrategy

  Background

  The existing headquarters, built in 1976, required substantial renewal after decades of use.

  Action taken

  Members approved relocation to a commercial property near Sendagaya Station, with the association pursuing purchase or lease arrangements.

  Aftermath

  The new headquarters was completed and opened during the association's 2024 centenary.

  Source

• 2011

  Conversion to public-interest incorporated statusStrategy

  Background

  The association had operated as an incorporated membership association since 1949.

  Action taken

  The JSA was registered as a Public Interest Incorporated Association under Japanese law.

  Aftermath

  The new legal status formalized the association's public cultural and educational role.

  Source

• 1936

  Consolidation of competing professional organizationsStrategy

  Background

  Professional shogi had split between eastern and western organizations, including a dispute over the promotion of Tatsunosuke Kanda.

  Action taken

  The competing sections merged with a third western group to create the Shogi Consolidation Association.

  Aftermath

  The merger made a unified, nonhereditary Meijin tournament possible.

  Source

1. 1Japan Shogi Associationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Japan Shogi Association official websiteshogi.or.jp