Tendō Chess Piece Museum

photo by Drivephotographer · CC0

photo by さかおり · CC BY-SA 4.0

Tendō makes over 90% of shōgi pieces, which began as work for the poorest samurai.

In the late Edo period, Yoshida Daihachi, a trusted retainer of the Oda clan that ruled Tendō, encouraged impoverished samurai to carve shōgi pieces (Japanese chess) to supplement their stipend: this gave rise to a craft district that today produces over 90% of the pieces used throughout Japan. The museum, next to the JR station, is the only one in the whole country devoted specifically to chess pieces.

Civic museum devoted to the making of shōgi koma (pieces) in Tendō, from the hand techniques – kaki-goma (written with a brush), hori-goma (carved), hori-ume-goma (carved and filled), mori-age-goma (raised) – designated traditional crafts, to modern pieces.

ℹ️ Open 9:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30). Closed on the third Monday of the month (the following day if a public holiday) and over the year-end and New Year period. Entry 320 yen adults, 210 yen high school and university students, 100 yen elementary and junior high school students; free on 17 November. Next to JR Tendō Station.

🚉 Tendo · in front of the station

Sources: city.tendo.yamagata.jp · city.tendo.yamagata.jp

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