Shōgi (将 棋, literally "game of generals") is a traditional Japanese abstract combinatorial board game, similar to chess, and between two players. This game is celebrated on November 17 in Japan, where it is extremely popular.

The shōgi shares its origin with other games in the chess family. Although long considered to be derived from Chaturanga, recent research remains skeptical about the precise origin of this family of games. Today, we agree to think that the source is probably located in the basin of Central Asia, either in the north of India, or more probably in the south of China with the Boluo Saixi (in Sanskrit Prasena, mentioned in the 6th century by the monk Fazang), even in a country of the Sassanid Empire. In the West, the ancestor of shōgi and chess spread along trade routes, during conquests and trips made by missionaries, then reached Persia which in turn was conquered by the Arabs between 638 and 641 AD. . AD 2. The rules are modified in contact with different civilizations and the game reaches Europe under the name of Shatranj, distributed by the Moors during their conquest of Spain and part of the South of the France at the beginning of the 8th century. In the East, the game reaches China and the modified rules will give rise to Xiangqi, in Thailand to Makruk, then the exchanges between the Middle Empire and Japan will lead to the creation of the shōgi, probably during the time. of Nara between the years 710 and 794. The shōgi gained popularity during the Heian period (794-1185), when the capital of Japan moved from Nara to Kyoto. It turns out that the shōgi in its current version has been played since the 16th century (period of opening of Japan to the world, the country having been closed to any European influence until then), the movements of the different pieces having been detailed in a document written around 1210-1221, the Nichūreki (二 中 歴), Dictionary of Popular Culture, which happens to be a reissued copy of the Shōchūreki (掌中 歴) and Kaichūreki (懐 中 歴) manuscripts. The word shōgi, which means the game of generals, is derived from the word shōgun which means supreme military general. The Tōkyō shōgi renmei (東京 将 棋 連 盟?, Litt. “Tokyo shōgi federation”) was founded in 1924. The current Japanese shōgi federation (日本 将 棋 連 盟, Nihon shōgi renmei?) Whose international acronym is JSA ( Japan Shogi Association) was founded in 19472 (the official date used being 1924). It organizes the tournament calendar, and pays the players who have obtained the status of professional player.