囲碁将棋盤 榧寿堂 ／ Caring for Shogi Pieces: Dry-Wiping, Oil, the Komabako and Where to Keep Them
Caring for Shogi Pieces: Dry-Wiping, Oil, the Komabako and Where to Keep Them
A good set of shogi pieces (koma, 駒) can be used for decades. What decides how long they last is mostly simple: how you wipe them, whether you put oil on them, and where they sit between games.
This page covers the everyday care of wooden pieces, and what to do when something goes wrong.
The short answer
- Wipe the pieces with a soft, dry cloth. That is the everyday care. Kyoto Ōishi Tengudō, a Kyoto maker of go and shogi equipment, recommends exactly this.
- Oil is for occasional use only, a little plant oil on a cloth when pieces are very dirty or you want more shine, then wiped off. Keep oil away from horiume and moriage pieces as far as you can.
- Let the colour deepen with use. The same maker says the best outcome is for the wood to darken gradually from the oils of players’ hands and from light.
- Store them in a komabukuro (piece bag) and a komabako (piece box). Keep the box out of direct sun, away from sharp temperature changes, and out of places where air blows straight across it.
Know which kind of pieces you have
Care depends on how the characters were put on the wood. The three carved kinds you are most likely to own:
| Kind | How the characters are made | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Hori-goma (彫り駒) | Characters cut into the wood with a carving knife, lacquer put into the cuts | The most robust for regular play |
| Horiume-goma (彫埋駒) | The carved grooves filled with lacquer and finished flat | Keep oil off the lacquer |
| Moriage-goma (盛上駒) | Starting from horiume, lacquer is built up with a fine brush so the characters stand above the surface | The raised lacquer is the delicate part; handle gently and keep oil off |
If you are not sure which you have, run a fingertip over a character: a cut you can feel is hori-goma, a flat surface is horiume, a raised line is moriage. More on the kinds of pieces is in Types of Shogi Pieces.
Everyday care: a dry cloth
After a game, wipe the pieces with a soft, dry cloth. Tengudō’s advice is plain: wiping dry is best. For the accessories (komadai, komabako) a dry wipe is enough too.
Avoid water, alcohol wipes and cleaning sprays. Wood that takes up moisture can stain or warp, and lacquer is better kept dry. Avoid anything abrasive as well; it wears both the lacquer and the surface of the wood.
Over years of play, pieces take on a deeper tone. Tengudō describes this gradual darkening from hand oils and light as the best way for pieces to age, so there is no need to try to keep them looking new.
Oil: occasionally, sparingly
Tengudō’s guidance on oil, in summary:
- Use it only when the pieces are badly soiled or you want a stronger sheen.
- Use plant oil, and do not put on a lot. Soak a little into a cloth rather than applying it to the pieces.
- Polish one piece at a time, carefully.
- Wipe off the oil thoroughly afterwards.
- For horiume and moriage pieces, be especially careful not to over-oil; if possible, avoid oil altogether.
In other words, oil is a treatment, not a routine. For most sets, a dry cloth is all they ever need.
Storing pieces: bag, box and the right spot
Bag, then box. Put the pieces in their komabukuro (駒袋, cloth bag) and the bag in the komabako (駒箱, piece box). This keeps the pieces from knocking against each other and protects the lacquer.
Do not seal them away. A komabako is not an airtight container. Shutting pieces in a sealed plastic box, or at the back of a damp cupboard, lets moisture build up, which can lead to mould and discolouring. Keep them somewhere moisture does not collect.
Where to keep the box. Tengudō advises keeping pieces away from:
- direct sunlight, such as a sunny windowsill;
- places with sharp swings in temperature;
- places where air moves across them: a spot where wind blows through the room, or in the direct airflow of an air conditioner, heater or fan.
A shelf in a living room, away from the window and the air vents, is usually a sensible place. Wooden boards need similar care; see Caring for a Go Board.
When something goes wrong
If lacquer has chipped or lifted, a piece has cracked, or pieces have warped, it is safest not to try to fix them yourself. Glue, paint or sanding can make a repair harder later. Take the set to a specialist go and shogi equipment shop or to the maker and ask them to look at it.
Also count the set now and then. A full set for one game is 40 pieces (Japan Shogi Association), 20 for each player. If you find extra pieces in the box, check the maker’s description of what the set includes.
A quick routine
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| After each game | Wipe with a soft dry cloth, bag, box |
| Now and then | Count the pieces; check for chips or lifting lacquer |
| Only when needed | A little plant oil on a cloth, wiped off (avoid on horiume and moriage) |
| All the time | Keep the box out of sun, temperature swings and moving air; never sealed airtight |
FAQ
Should I oil new shogi pieces? There is no need. Dry-wiping is the normal care. Oil is something to use sparingly, occasionally, and preferably not at all on horiume and moriage pieces.
Can I wash pieces that feel sticky? Avoid water. Wipe with a dry soft cloth; if that is not enough, a little plant oil on a cloth, wiped off afterwards, is the method Tengudō describes. Tengudō asks that horiume and moriage pieces get as little oil as possible, ideally none; for those, ask a specialist shop.
My pieces have darkened. Is that damage? Usually not. Gradual darkening from handling and light is how good pieces age.
How many pieces should a set have? 40 for a game, 20 per player (Japan Shogi Association).
If you are still putting a set together, see The Equipment You Need to Start Shogi.
Sources (checked 19 October 2026): Kyoto Ōishi Tengudō — 将棋駒について（手入れ・保管方法） (dry-wiping, plant oil, horiume and moriage pieces, storage) / Japan Shogi Association — 駒の並べ方 (40 pieces). The descriptions of hori-goma, horiume-goma and moriage-goma follow the Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry’s page on Tendō shogi pieces. For a specific set, follow the care instructions of its maker.