Why isn't chess popular in Japan?

#1

Post by cushpush » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 2:16 AM UTC

Why isn't chess popular in Japan?
lichess.org

Re: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?

#2

Post by BryanLegend » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 3:54 AM UTC

It's because Go is a much better game.

Shogi is inferior though to Chess because it takes too long to play with the pieces being returnable.

Re: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?

#3

Post by autocorr » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 3:56 AM UTC

For those interested in playing and learning Shogi, take a look over at the great site https://lishogi.org -- a fork of LiChess for Shogi that includes real-time and correspondence play, AI opponents, analysis, puzzles and more. One of my favorite variants, Kyoto Shogi, is also available. The website https://pychess.org also has a ton of interesting and unique variants both traditional (Makruk) and modern (Chennis!).

Re: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?

#4

Post by pmontra » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 4:02 AM UTC

BryanLegend wrote: post #2

It's because Go is a much better game. Shogi is inferior though to Chess because it takes too long to play with the pieces being returnable.

That's debatable. Maybe shogi is superior to chess because it's a longer game and pieces can change side. Or maybe Chinese chess are better because they are a faster game with less pieces and more movement.

Go is definitely better than all of them though, at least for me, and yet it's less popular than any game of chess in any country.

Re: Why isn't chess popular in Japan?

#5

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Sep 08, 2023, 4:04 AM UTC

BryanLegend wrote: post #2

It's because Go is a much better game. Shogi is inferior though to Chess because it takes too long to play with the pieces being returnable.