5 Best Anime About Shogi That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Anime About Shogi

A list of the best Shogi animated and manga works of art.

We at ChasingAnime are well aware that determining the finest shojo anime and manga is a difficult task that must take into account both the game’s mechanics and the story’s overall theme. Next, think about what else makes a great anime or manga.

MyAnimeList.net has compiled their individual rankings, which you can see below. Thousands of admirers have voted, but these are the works that you should not miss. The following are some of our favorite shogi anime and manga, as well as some other notable shogi-themed shows.

1. The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done! (Ryūō no Oshigoto!)

The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done

It’s a delightful series with an absurd premise that’s made its way from light novel to manga to anime. In his early teen years, Yaichi Kuzuryuu had already given up on his dream of becoming a professional karate practitioner. When Hinatsuru Ai, a 9-year-old prodigy, approached him to practice with him, everything changed.

As a result, Kuzuryuu is forced to marry Ai if she doesn’t become a major shogi player by the time she’s done with middle school.

Fun to watch, yet really serious in its shogi.

Those who are already familiar with the game will appreciate the terminology and strategies used in this version. It is common in Japan for the winners of important shogi tournaments to get titles based on the event they won. Ry, the alias given to Yaichi Kuzuryuu, will face Meijin, a character who appears to be based on an actual person.

In addition, the story sheds light on the world of Japanese shogi, where top players can earn six figures or more depending on how well they play. Players in the lower pro ranks can earn up to 2 million yen a year… It’s worth noting, too, that Ryuo champions (see Ryuo no Oshigoto above) can earn up to 42 million yen (about $386,000 USD).

2. March Comes in Like a Lion (3-Gatsu no Lion/ Sangatsu no Raion)

March comes in like a lion

3-gatsu no Lion, the manga by Honey and Clover’s mangakaChica Umino, may be familiar to fans of the series. A 17-year-old male chess player, Rei, has a rank of five dan and lives on his own. He is an orphan who has grown apart from his foster family; he has a bright future in shogi, but he appears to be a recluse. Loner characters, shut-ins, and recluses are all featured in our greatest isekai anime list.

A family of three sisters is the only group of people he interacts with on a regular basis. Throughout the novel, we see Rei develop as a person and become closer to his sisters. While it lacks the extravagant special effects of your standard shounen anime, it does make use of some creative presentation techniques to keep things interesting. In addition, seeing theshogiexchanges makes you feel like you’re watching a professional game from the top down, with all of the characters identified and ready to follow.

3. 81 Diver (Hachi Wan Daibaa)

81 Diver

Hashish Wan Daibaa has failed to find an anime adaptation despite having an intriguing premise. A manga by Yokusaru Shibata served as inspiration for a series of video game adaptations that have appeared on a variety of platforms, including the PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and Wii. Though eventually made into a television series, it ran for just 11 episodes.

Kentaro, the series’ protagonist, fails miserably in his attempts to make a living by playing shogi professionally, instead turning to amateur shogi clubs for gambling. Having been defeated by the enigmatic “Ukeshi,” he is left in disbelief and inspired to play the game more seriously.

On top of all that, the mysteriousUkeshi in maid cosplay outfit offers part-time house cleaning in 81 Diver. Seeing how Kentaro strives to put his life back together under the supervision of the Ukeshi is a must-see.

4. Shion’s King (Shion no Ō)

Shion’s King

The journey of a professional shogiplayer is intertwined with mystery and intrigue in this one. In Shion’s King, a girl who plays shogi to find out the truth is the protagonist. Shion Yasuoka became mute after witnessing the terrible death of her parents. She uses a notebook to keep in touch with others.

As the investigation into the murders of her parents progresses, it follows her as she becomes a professional shogi player. As a professional player in the same league as her, Shion even competes with her foster father. It’s not an adversarial relationship; rather, it’s one in which the student outperforms the teacher.

Fans of Hikaru no Go will recognize Shion no O as a shogi counterpart, as the two games share many of the same ideas. Despite the fact that the fights aren’t too theatrical, there are always some surprises thrown in.

5. Even so, Ayumu Draws Closer to the End Game (Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru)

Even so, Ayumu Draws Closer to the End Game

Shogi is featured prominently in this manga (hoping for an animated version). Ayumu Tanaka, a high school junior, joins the shogi club with his senpai, Urushi Yaotome, in this story. All he wants is to defeat hissenpai atshogi and then he can finally admit how he feels.

For lovers of Slam Dunk, Soredemo’s romance and comedy will bring back memories of Hanamichi Sakuragi and Haruko Akagi’s love affair. It elevates it to a new level, though, by making it the focal point of the narrative. Even more intriguing is the fact that Urushi already has a sense of how herkouhai feels in the first chapter of the manga. Ayumu flirts with Urushi and calls her cute, but he doesn’t go so far as to admit his feelings.

Their story shows how they strive to push each other into a checkmate, both in shogi and in their sentiments. ‘Soredemo’ is an excellent example of this. This playful flirting plus the natural incorporation of the game in their conversation makes Ayumu and Urushi’s story a worthwhile read.

Conclusion

If you enjoy playing mind games and being one step (or several steps) ahead of your opponent, you’ll enjoy what’s just been described. Our recommendation to start with if you are new to the Shogi genre is Even so, Ayumu Draws Closer to the End Game. It is light hearted and keeps you engaged in their daily banter, always wanting to find out how our main character is gonna capture her crush one step at a time, inch by inch, drawing closer to the end game.