Vintage Japanese Shogi Set with Folding Board and Piece Box, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0431-5

Vintage Japanese Shogi Set with Folding Board and Piece Box, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0431-5

A complete late-century shogi game set with two-panel folding board and original wooden piece box -- a rare and charming survivor of postwar Japanese domestic craft.

A shogi set is the traditional Japanese counterpart to chess, played on a 9x9 grid with wedge-shaped wooden pieces bearing brushed kanji characters identifying each piece's rank and movement. Dating to the late-Showa era, this vintage Japanese game set features a two-panel folding board joined by metal hinges, allowing the playing surface to fold flat for compact storage -- a practical design widely adopted in postwar Japanese households. The pale, warm-toned board surface displays a cleanly ruled 9x9 grid with four star points (called "hoshi") marked at the standard reference intersections, printed in bold black lines against the light wood ground. The unfinished reverse side reveals a straight-grained light wood, consistent with the economical yet quality-conscious craft production of the period.

In a modern home, this vintage shogi set makes a wonderfully distinctive living room accent or conversation piece on a coffee table or shelf, evoking the wabi-sabi aesthetic of late-century Japan. The folding board, when laid flat and open, doubles as a striking minimalist desk mat or display surface for small objects, while the lidded wooden piece box -- complete with its original paper label bearing a red seal stamp and a quality grade notation -- makes a charming desktop organizer or keepsake box. A thoughtful and unique gift for Japanophiles, board game collectors, or anyone drawn to handcrafted Japanese vintage pieces with genuine historical character.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Light wood board (straight-grained softwood, species unconfirmed); light wood piece box, likely kiri wood (paulownia); wooden shogi pieces with printed kanji; metal hinge hardware
• Use: Playing shogi, the traditional Japanese strategy board game
• Modern Use: Living room or study display accent; desktop organizer using the lidded piece box; unique gift for board game collectors or Japanophiles
• Features: Two-panel folding board with metal hinges; full 9x9 playing grid with hoshi star points; plain unfinished reverse; lidded wooden piece box with original paper label and red quality seal; multiple wedge-shaped wooden shogi pieces with brushed kanji characters stored inside
• Dimensions: 12"W x 13 1/2"D x 1"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition -- light surface wear and minor age spotting to the board consistent with use and age; hinges intact and functional; piece box and label intact.

A genuine piece of vintage Japanese game culture -- this handcrafted shogi set brings the quiet strategy and timeless aesthetic of late-century Japan into any modern home or collection.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.