Image: Wikimedia Commons
Tendo Shogi Goma are shogi (Japanese chess) pieces made mainly in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, said to account for roughly 95% of national production. Their origins trace back to the late Edo period, when the financially struggling Tendo Oda domain encouraged lower-ranking samurai to make shogi pieces as a side occupation. The domain learned techniques from piece-makers in Osaka by way of the Yonezawa domain, and by the end of the Edo period the foundations of 'kaki-goma' (written pieces), made using cursive script, had been established. From the Meiji era onward, a division-of-labor system took shape and the area developed into a mass-production center, coming to boast the nation's largest output by the early Showa era. The raw material is boxwood (tsuge) from Mikurajima Island in the Izu Islands, sometimes called 'a jewel among woods,' and the pieces come in four types: kaki-goma (written), hori-goma (carved), horiume-goma (carved and lacquer-filled), and moriage-goma (raised-lacquer). Among these, moriage-goma, in which the characters are raised in lacquer, are considered the finest grade and are used even in shogi title matches. In 1996, the craft was designated a Traditional Craft Designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Origin
The origins of Tendo Shogi Goma trace back to the late Edo period. In 1831 (Tenpo 2), the Oda domain, which had moved from Obata in Kozuke Province by way of Takahata in Dewa Province to Tendo, faced financial hardship after repeated crop failures, and as a measure to relieve its retainers, encouraged lower-ranking samurai to make shogi pieces as a side occupation. The technique is said to have been transmitted by way of the Yonezawa domain, which had already invited a piece-maker from Osaka.
History
By the end of the Edo period, the foundations of 'kaki-goma,' pieces written in cursive script, had been established, and in the Meiji era a division-of-labor system took shape, making mass production possible. By the early Showa era, Tendo had become the nation's largest shogi-piece production center, and, centered on the Yamagata Shogi Piece Cooperative, it continues today to account for the majority of national production, marking a history of more than 160 years. It received national Traditional Craft designation in 1996.
Features
Tendo Shogi Goma are prized for the beautiful grain of boxwood from Mikurajima Island, called 'a jewel among woods,' and for the luster of black lacquer. Depending on the method of manufacture, the pieces fall into four types: kaki-goma, on which characters are written in lacquer; hori-goma, made by carving; horiume-goma, in which carved characters are filled with lacquer; and moriage-goma, the finest grade, in which characters are raised in lacquer. There are said to be around 150 different calligraphic styles, and Japan's traditional aesthetic is condensed into pieces measuring only about 3 centimeters square.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Preparing the wood blanks
Piece blanks are cut one by one from boards of boxwood sourced from Mikurajima Island.
- 2
Making the character stencil and transferring characters
A jiboshi (character stencil) based on the chosen calligraphic style is used to transfer the position of each character onto the wood blank.
- 3
Carving and filling with lacquer
The characters are carved, and raw lacquer or sabi-urushi (lacquer putty) is worked into the carved grooves.
- 4
Polishing and raising
The surface is polished to finish the piece, and for moriage-goma the characters are further raised in lacquer. The carving-and-filling process alone takes about a month.
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Artisans & Workshops
天童佐藤敬商店
A shop in Tazurumachi, Tendo City, specializing in shogi pieces and boards. It makes and sells a wide range of pieces, from traditional kaki-goma to hori-goma and moriage-goma.
Official site →中島清吉商店
A shop specializing in shogi pieces in Tazurumachi, Tendo City. It carries everything from high-end hori-goma to pieces for beginners, and also offers a kaki-goma making experience in the shop.
Official site →How to Buy
- 天童佐藤敬商店
- A shop in Tazurumachi, Tendo City, specializing in shogi pieces and boards. Pieces can also be purchased through its online store; hori-goma start in the 20,000-yen range, and high-end pieces such as moriage-goma are also available.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
将棋むら天童タワー
山形県天童市大字久野本1273-2
A kaki-goma making experience (1,210 yen) and a hori-goma experience (reservation required) are held daily. Each takes about 40 minutes, and pieces made during the experience can be taken home the same day.
View details →中島清吉商店
山形県天童市田鶴町2-2-2
A kaki-goma making experience is held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (reception until 4:00 PM). About a 10-minute walk from JR Tendo Station.
View details →