_Shōgi_, or Japanese chess, is played on a board with nine squares a side, or altogether eighty-one squares. There are twenty men on each side. The nine men on the end-row are the king in the middle, with _kinsho_ (gold general), _ginsho_ (silver general), _keima_ (knight), and _kyosha_ (kind of rook) on either side; on the second row the men are _hisha_ (rook proper) and _kakko_ (bishop) on the second square from the right and left ends respectively; and the third row is filled with pawns. The pieces are all of the same form; they have each a base with two converging sides surmounted by two others which make an obtuse angle at the apex, and are thicker at the base than at the top so that they can readily stand, though they are always laid flat. The name of each piece is written on the upper surface. The largest of these men is the king, next to which are the pieces on the second row, followed by the men on the end-row, while the smallest are the pawns. The king can move one square in any direction; the _kinsho_ has the same moves except to the diagonals behind; and the _ginsho_ moves one square forward and diagonally in the four directions; and the _keima_ and the _kyosha_ have, one the forward moves only of the knight and the other the forward move only of the rook. The _hisha_ and the _kakko_ have the same moves as the rook and the bishop respectively. The pawns move one square forward and take the hostile pieces in front and not diagonally. When the pieces enter the enemy’s territory, that is, within the furthest three rows, they are not queened as there are no queens in _shōgi_, they acquire the moves of _kinsho_. In that case they forfeit their own moves, with the exception of the _hisha_ and _kakko_, which retain them. When the pieces are thus changed in character, they are turned the reverse side up. The capture of the men and checking of the king are the same as in European chess; but stalemate is unknown, for the reason that we can make use of any pieces of our adversary that we may have taken, and if our king is in danger, we can readily defend him by putting in the field some of our prisoners. This causes no inconvenience as there is no distinction of colour between the hostile pieces; their side is shown by the direction of the pointed ends of the pieces. The enemy’s pieces may be brought into requisition in his own territory; but they must move at least one square forward before they can be converted into _kinsho_. [Illustration: JAPANESE CHESS.] _Shōgi_ is universally played; but it is more especially the favourite game of the lower classes Among the better classes, _go_ is in greater vogue; it is much affected by retired old gentlemen, officials, school-teachers, and others of the professions. It is certainly more difficult and probably more scientific than the other.