#3 History of 将棋(Shogi)! Part4

　The final part of this section introduces words and idioms derived from Shogi that are commonly used in everyday life. These terms frequently appear in conversations, news reports, newspapers, and on social media. This shows just how deeply Shogi has permeated Japanese culture. If you find these expressions interesting, give them a try in your own conversations!

⑴王手をかける(Ōte o kakeru)

　It means "to put the king in check." In a casual, everyday context, it is often used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone or some team is very close to achieving a final victory or decisive success. 　

　For example, this phrase is often seen in sports news. In Japanese professional sports such as baseball, football, and basketball, teams compete in league games. When the rule is that the first team to win four games wins the championship, with a maximum of seven games in the final league. When team A wins three games first in this series, you might see headlines like
「チームAが優勝(ゆうしょう)に王手をかけました。(Team A is on the verge of winning the championship!)」

⑵持ち駒(Mochigoma)

　持ち駒 (Mochigoma) refers to pieces captured from your opponent in Shogi. These captured pieces can be placed on almost any square on the board during your turn, following specific rules. In a broader sense, 持ち駒 means having something at your disposal, whether it’s an action you can take, a person you can rely on, or an option you can offer in a given situation.

　A common example that comes to mind is job hunting in Japan, which has some unique aspects. Every spring, various companies start recruiting university students simultaneously. As a result, students apply to multiple companies and submit their resumes. They then proceed with interviews and other stages of the selection process.
　
　Those who are struggling in their job hunt might get turned down by several companies and start thinking, 「持ち駒がない。(Oh no, I don't have anything left to offer)😨」 They are referring to the companies that are still considering their applications, in other words, the companies that have not yet rejected them, as 持ち駒 (resources at their disposal).

The pieces lined up next to the board are called "持ち駒"

⑶駒を進める(Koma o susumeru)

　駒を進める literally means "to advance a piece" in Shogi. Metaphorically, it means to make progress or take steps forward in a particular situation.
　
　This phrase is often used, as in (1) and (2), to describe making progress towards a goal, one step at a time, such as in sports or job hunting.
　
　For example, think of a sports tournament. In a tournament, you move through the stages: first round(1回戦), second round(2回戦), semi-finals(準決勝), finals(決勝), and so on. It’s similar to how a Shogi piece advances step by step towards victory. That’s why in Japanese, newspapers and other media might say, 「Aさんは準決勝(じゅんけっしょう)に駒を進めました。(Mr./Ms. A has advanced to the semi-finals)」
It’s an easy expression to visualise, isn't it?

⑷高飛車(Takabisha)

　飛車(Hisha: the Rock) is a powerful piece. This word,"高飛車", originates from an early game strategy called 浮き飛車(Uki-bisha : Floating rock) , where the player adopts an aggressive position. Over time, the term changed to 高飛車 then evolved to describe someone who is arrogant, overbearing, or high-handed.

　You can use it like this: 「あの人は高飛車な人だ。(That person is very high-handed)」or  「あの人は弱い人にすぐ高飛車に出(で)る。(That person quickly becomes overbearing towards those who are weaker)」.

　As you can see in the picture below, the Floating Rock, which originally started in a secure position, has moved forward to show its aggressive stance. Do you know anyone around you who behaves this aggressively?

⑸詰み(Tsumi)

　詰み (Tsumi) is a Shogi term referring to a situation where the king, who must not be captured, has no escape, leading to an inevitable capture. In other words, it means a loss. The word "王手 (Ōte)" mentioned above translates to "Check" in English, while "詰み (Tsumi)" means "Checkmate." These terms can be applied to many different situations. By the way, it can also be used as the verb "詰む (Tsumu)."

　For example, many gamers might say "「あ、詰んだ。(Oh, I'm stuck)」 when they realise they can't win the game. Conversely, this term is not commonly used in business. In a business context, the focus is more on finding solutions and improving from mistakes rather than admitting defeat. 　
　Among young people, this term is used even for minor mistakes or failures. For example, 「宿題(しゅくだい)忘(わす)れた。詰んだ。(I forgot my homework - I'm stuck)」, meaning the teacher will definitely be angry. Why not try using it casually in your conversations?😆

Summary

　How was it? Over these four parts, I've discussed Shogi in detail.
　After studying the history of Shogi, I realised that Shogi is an integral part of Japanese identity. It might seem like a minor game that isn’t widely played around the world. However, I believe it is a venerable game that has remained cherished and familiar to the Japanese people from ancient times to the present day. Behind its enduring popularity, I can sense the support of countless individuals and the relentless efforts that have preserved it.

　My goal is to make learning Japanese not just about the language but also about understanding various aspects of Japan. I aim to continue offering interesting and detailed explanations of Japanese culture, history, and language. I hope this niche topic has sparked your interest in Japan, even just a little.😊

Thank you for reading!