囲碁将棋盤 榧寿堂 ／ The Equipment You Need to Start Shogi: Board, Pieces, Komadai and Komabako
The Equipment You Need to Start Shogi: Board, Pieces, Komadai and Komabako
Shogi (将棋, Japanese chess) needs less equipment than almost any traditional board game. A board and a set of pieces is all it takes to play. Everything else, the stands, boxes and bags you see in photos of formal games, makes the game more comfortable and the equipment last longer, but none of it is required.
This page sets out what each item is, what you actually need on day one, and a sensible order for upgrading if you keep playing.
The short version
- Minimum: a shogi board (shogi-ban, 将棋盤) and a set of shogi pieces (koma, 駒). That is enough to play.
- For more comfortable play, add a komadai (駒台), a small stand for captured pieces.
- To store and carry pieces, use a komabako (駒箱, piece box) or komabukuro (駒袋, piece bag).
- Boards come as tabletop or legged; pieces are chosen by how the characters are made and by wood.
- Start with an affordable set and upgrade step by step to a wooden board and boxwood pieces once you know you will keep playing.
The two things you actually need
A shogi board. The board has a 9×9 grid, 81 squares. It is not square: about 36 cm long by 33 cm wide, because it is shaped for players sitting on opposite sides. A go board is larger and will not substitute; see Shogi Board Sizes, and How They Differ From a Go Board.
A set of pieces. Each player has 20 pieces, so a set is 40. Shogi pieces are flat, five-sided wooden tiles with characters written on them. There are no colours: both sides’ pieces look the same, and ownership is shown by which way a piece points.
With these two, you can play. Shogi does not need the stone bowls that go does, so its minimum kit is even smaller.
Choosing a board: tabletop or legged
| Type | Typical thickness | How it is used | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop board (takujō-ban) | Around 1–3 sun (about 3–9 cm); 2 sun is a common choice | On a table or the floor | Beginners, flats and apartments, players who sit on chairs |
| Legged board (ashitsuki-ban) | Mostly 5–6 sun (about 15–18 cm) for formal boards | On the floor, players kneel facing each other | The traditional style; play on tatami or a floor |
Thickness is written in sun (寸): 1 sun is about 3.03 cm. A “6-sun board” is a board about 18 cm thick, not a larger board. Board thickness is explained in Go & Shogi Board Thickness.
For most players outside Japan, who play at a table, a tabletop board is the practical choice. Woods range from inexpensive timbers through shin-kaya (新榧) to hon-kaya (本榧), the finest board wood. Shin-kaya is a different tree, not a lower grade of kaya; see Honkaya vs Shinkaya.
For a sense of scale, Japanese retail prices for tabletop shogi boards around 1 sun thick were about 5,940–10,340 yen, and legged shogi boards 2 sun thick about 22,000–36,300 yen (board alone, without komadai; official online prices of Shogoya, an Osaka go and shogi shop, including tax, checked 2026-10-06, before shipping: https://www.syogoya.co.jp/shopbrand/takujyosyogiban/ and https://www.syogoya.co.jp/shopbrand/asitsukisyogiban/). Thicker legged boards and hon-kaya rise steeply from there.
Choosing pieces: how the characters are made, and the wood
Shogi pieces are graded mainly by how the characters are put on the wood. In rising order of hand work:
- Oshi-goma (押し駒): printed or stamped
- Kaki-goma (書き駒): written with a brush
- Hori-goma (彫り駒): carved, with lacquer in the carving
- Horiume-goma (彫埋駒): carved, filled with lacquer and polished flat
- Moriage-goma (盛上駒): lacquer built up so the characters stand above the surface
For regular play, hori-goma are the standard choice: the characters are cut into the wood and do not rub off. Moriage-goma are for display and serious occasions. The full explanation, including how to tell them apart by touch, is in Types of Shogi Pieces.
The finest piece wood is tsuge (黄楊, Japanese boxwood). Entry sets use cheaper woods or plastic. There is no need to begin with boxwood: start with pieces that are easy to handle and move to boxwood once you know shogi is staying in your life.
The komadai, komabako and komabukuro
Once you have a board and pieces, these three items make shogi more comfortable:
- Komadai (駒台, piece stand). In shogi, captured pieces can be dropped back onto the board by the capturing player, so each player keeps their captures (mochigoma, 持ち駒) in view. The komadai is the small stand where they sit. With a legged board, a legged komadai is the formal pairing; with a tabletop board, a small komadai is used.
- Komabako (駒箱, piece box). A box for storing the pieces. A wooden box protects them from swings in humidity and dryness, and looks the part.
- Komabukuro (駒袋, piece bag). A cloth bag for carrying or casually storing pieces.
None of these is required. They help keep pieces in good condition, and a game feels more settled with the captures laid out properly.
One thing beginners often overlook: putting the equipment away is part of the set. Returning the pieces to their box or bag, and the board to a sensible spot, is what keeps wooden equipment lasting. A good board and a good set of pieces can last for decades, but how they are stored changes that a great deal.
A realistic upgrade path
| Stage | Board | Pieces | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | Tabletop board | Affordable pieces | — |
| Decided to keep playing | Wooden tabletop board, or a legged board | Boxwood hori-goma | Komadai |
| Keeping or giving as a gift | Hon-kaya board | Boxwood moriage-goma | Komabako |
Prices vary enormously with the wood of the board and how the pieces are made, so we do not give a single figure. Decide how seriously you want to begin and set the budget from there. If your budget is limited, consider putting more into the pieces: your hands touch them far more than they touch the board.
Looking after the equipment
Wooden boards and pieces last if handled properly. Boards: keep them out of direct sun and very dry air, and dry-wipe them; never wipe with water or alcohol. Boxwood pieces: dry-wipe them, avoid sudden swings in humidity, and handle lacquered pieces, moriage in particular, gently, since built-up lacquer can wear with hard rubbing. A komabako or komabukuro is the simplest way to protect them between games.
FAQ
What is the minimum equipment for shogi? A shogi board and a set of 40 pieces. Add a komadai or komabako for more comfortable play.
Do I need a komadai? It is not required, but it keeps captured pieces organised and in view, which matters in shogi because captures can be dropped back into play. With a legged board, a legged komadai is the formal pairing.
Should I start with a hon-kaya board and boxwood pieces? No need. Most people start with an affordable set and move to better equipment once they know they will keep playing.
What should I buy for children? An easy-to-handle tabletop board and sturdy, affordable pieces that will not break if dropped.
What is the difference between a komabako and a komabukuro? A komabako is a wooden box for storing pieces, protecting them and adding a sense of occasion. A komabukuro is a cloth bag for carrying them. Use whichever suits how you play.
Can I use a go board for shogi? No. The grid and dimensions are different; a shogi board needs a 9×9 grid sized for shogi pieces.
Related pages
- Types of Shogi Pieces
- Shogi Board Sizes, and How They Differ From a Go Board
- Go & Shogi Board Thickness
- Honkaya vs Shinkaya
This page sets out general guidance on starting shogi equipment (checked October 2026). Specifications and prices vary by maker and shop; confirm with the seller before buying. We are an independent guide. We do not stock equipment, but we can order it from makers and shops in Japan for you — see Ordering from overseas.