Mini Shogi

About this board game

Mini Shogi is a two-player shogi variant played on a 5×5 board, with an estimated play time of 15 minutes. Released in 1970, it offers a smaller-format way to experience key elements of standard shogi.

The game features six types of pieces from standard shogi: the king, gold, silver, bishop, rook, and pawn. Pieces can promote on the final rank, adding an important rule from the larger game to this compact 5×5 setting.

• For 2 players
• Played on a 5×5 board
• Includes king, gold, silver, bishop, rook, and pawn pieces
• Pieces promote on the final rank
• Uses the standard shogi drop rule

Mini Shogi also uses the standard shogi drop rule. Along with promotion, this gives the game a distinctive connection to standard shogi while keeping its board and piece selection limited in scale.

The variant was invented—or perhaps rediscovered—by Shigeo Kusumoto in 1970. Despite being played on a small board, Mini Shogi has not been solved, preserving a degree of uncertainty for players exploring its possibilities.

With its concise playing time and reduced board size, Mini Shogi can serve as a simple introduction to shogi. It presents recognizable shogi pieces and central rules in a format designed for two players and a shorter session.