![Tendo Shogi Koma: Carved Japanese Shogi Pieces from Yamagata [2026]](https://jpmono.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/tendo-shogi-koma-carved-pieces-where-to-buy-2026-featured.jpg)
- What it is: a full 40-piece set of carved Tendo shogi (Japanese chess) pieces in boxwood (shima-tsuge)
- Made in: Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture — a craft that began as side work for Oda-clan samurai in the 1830s; Tendo makes roughly 95% of all Japanese shogi pieces
- Price band: upper-tier for hand-finished heritage koma — a qualitative band; check the live listing for the current figure
- Best for: a serious player, collector, or milestone gift-buyer who wants carved (hori-goma) boxwood pieces with real provenance
- Skip if: you only want a cheap set to learn the rules — a plastic or printed set costs a fraction
- Shipping: ships internationally from Amazon Japan — jump to our pick ↓
A shogi piece is a flat, five-sided wedge of wood, and the kanji brushed or carved into its face decide everything — which way it moves, what rank it holds, and the instant it is flipped to reveal its promoted side. The best of those pieces come out of one small inland city. Tendo, in Yamagata Prefecture, makes roughly 95 percent of all the shogi koma (将棋駒, “shogi pieces”) produced in Japan, and the set covered here is a full carved boxwood set from that town.
What makes a Tendo set worth a closer look from outside Japan is lineage rather than novelty. The craft began as honorable side work for the impoverished samurai of the Tendo domain — a household whose lords descended from the warlord Oda Nobunaga — and the better grades are still finished the old way, each character carved into the wood and filled with lacquer by hand. Boxwood (島つげ, shima-tsuge) is the prized material: dense, fine-grained, and warm under the fingers.
This guide is written for the player, collector, or gift-buyer outside Japan who wants to understand what separates a heritage Tendo set from a commodity plastic one — the wood, the carving grades, the domain history behind the town — and how to actually buy one and have it shipped internationally. We cover the craft, the buying paths, the caveats, and where in Japan this all comes from.
🔄 Updated:
⏱️ Read time: ~11 min
- Who this is for — and who should skip it
- Product overview (from published specs)
- Price snapshot across stores
- What it does well
- Weaknesses and things to verify before buying
- Conclusion — which buyer type are you?
- Other ways to approach this purchase
- Where this comes from — place, era, and the craft tradition
- 🏆 Editor’s Pick
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who this is for — and who should skip it
- Play shogi seriously and want pieces that flip cleanly and feel substantial in hand
- Value carved boxwood (shima-tsuge) over plastic or pressed-wood koma
- Want a set with verifiable regional provenance from Tendo, the shogi-piece capital
- Are buying a milestone gift — a graduation, retirement, or a serious player’s first heritage set
- Appreciate lacquer-filled carved kanji as a craft object, not only a game tool
- Just want a cheap set to learn the rules — a plastic or printed set costs a fraction
- Cannot read, or do not want to learn, the kanji on traditional koma (no Western lettering)
- Need a board, clock, and pieces bundled — this is pieces only unless the listing states otherwise
- Expect same-day delivery — international shipping from Japan takes time
- Are uncomfortable maintaining a natural-wood object that responds to humidity
Product overview (from published specs)
ℹ️ Live pricing and some specs weren’t in our snapshot — the linked listing is authoritative; unconfirmed attributes are marked below.
The data captured for this specific set is limited. Only the Amazon JP product identifier (ASIN B09RQLVP27) and the hero listing image were returned; no live price snapshot or full attribute table was available at the time of writing. The table states what the listing and the craft category establish, and marks the rest honestly rather than guessing. Sources: Amazon US search (primary), Amazon JP Global Store (secondary, the sourced listing), and the Tendo craft record.
| Attribute | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Item | Full shogi piece set (koma), 40 pieces total | Craft category |
| Material | Boxwood (島つげ, shima-tsuge); straight-grain (masame) wood is most prized | Listing / recommendation hint |
| Kanji finish | Carved (hori-goma family) — characters cut into the face and filled with lacquer | Listing / recommendation hint |
| Origin | Tendo, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan | Craft provenance |
| Board included | Unconfirmed — check the listing (koma sets are often sold piece-only; pair with a kaya or katsura board) | — |
| Weight / dimensions | Unconfirmed — check manufacturer site | — |
| Price | Not captured at time of writing — verify on the live listing | — |
Spec sheets indicate carved boxwood pieces with lacquer-filled kanji for this set; dimensions and price were not in the fetched data and should be confirmed on the listing before purchase. Prices and stock fluctuate — the affiliate links below lead to current data.
- 🍽️ Dishwasher: no — hand-care only; never submerge carved lacquer koma
- ♨️ Microwave: no
- 🧴 Daily care: wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth; keep away from direct sun, radiators, and damp storage, since boxwood moves slightly with humidity
- 🔧 Repairs: Tendo workshops can re-lacquer or refresh high-grade carved pieces — ask the maker for service on a heritage set
📖 Glossary — key terms
- shogi (将棋) — Japanese chess, played on a 9×9 board; captured pieces can be returned to play, so the game rarely simplifies.
- koma (駒) — the playing pieces; flat, five-sided wedges that point toward the opponent.
- shima-tsuge (島つげ) — island boxwood, the prized koma material — dense, fine-grained, and slow-growing.
- masame (柾目) — straight, parallel wood grain, the most valued figure in koma stock.
- kaki-goma (書き駒) — “written pieces,” kanji applied with lacquer by brush.
- hori-goma (彫り駒) — “carved pieces,” kanji carved into the face and filled with lacquer.
- hori-ume-goma (彫り埋め駒) — “carved-and-filled pieces,” the highest grade, carved deep and the recess filled flush with lacquer, then polished.
- Ningen Shogi (人間将棋) — “human chess,” Tendo’s spring festival where armored people stand in as the pieces on a giant outdoor board.
- Maizuruyama (舞鶴山) — the hill in Tendo where the Ningen Shogi is held each spring under the cherry blossoms.
Related jpmono guides to other Japanese wood, board-game, and carved crafts — useful for comparing materials, price tiers, and gift fit.
Hyuga Go StonesThe board-game companion — clamshell stones for go
Yonezawa-ori (same prefecture)Another Yamagata craft — safflower-dyed silk
Hida Ittobori CarvingHand-carved wood at a jeweller’s scale
Kiso Oroku CombBoxwood worked for a different daily object
Kabazaiku (Tohoku woodwork)Cherry-bark craft from neighboring Akita
Iwate Homespun (Tohoku)Another cold-country Tohoku handcraft
Murakami Carved Lacquer
Carved-and-lacquered wood, a related finish
Hakone Yosegi WoodworkPrecision marquetry, another wood-craft standard
Price snapshot across stores
Pricing for this specific set was not captured in the fetched data, so the JPY/USD figures below are marked as unavailable rather than estimated. Verify on the listing before buying. As a category reference, heritage koma sets span a very wide range by grade — carved (hori-goma) and carved-and-filled (hori-ume-goma) boxwood sets reach collector prices, while stamped and written sets sit lower.
| Store | Item / variant | Price (JPY + USD est.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Amazon US (search) | Browse Japanese shogi sets & boards | varies (USD) | Best if you are shopping from the US — Prime shipping, USD pricing, no international customs. Amazon US carries shogi sets, boards, and clocks from several makers, useful for comparing grades and bundles. This exact Tendo carved set is sourced from Japan (next row). |
| Amazon JP Global Store | Tendo carved boxwood (shima-tsuge) full set, ASIN B09RQLVP27 | Not captured — verify on listing | The sourced listing for the exact item in this guide. Ships internationally from Japan to most major destinations. |
| Maker direct | Tendo workshops / Tendo shogi association shops | Varies by grade | Tendo workshops sell across grades from written to carved-and-filled; international shipping varies by shop. Useful for sourcing a specific grade or a signed maker’s set. |
| Proxy services (Buyee / Tenso) | Forwarding for Japan-only listings | Item price + forwarding fee | Use when a desired grade is listed only on Japan-domestic stores. Adds a service fee and a consolidation step. |
Prices in USD are approximate and depend on the current exchange rate (¥150/USD baseline as of mid-2026); the JPY price is the authoritative one. No live price was available for this listing at the time of writing.
What it does well
Shima-tsuge is dense and fine-grained, giving the pieces weight and a clean “snap” when set down — the tactile cue serious players value.
Characters carved into the face and filled with lacquer read crisply and hold up far better than printed ink over years of handling.
Tendo makes roughly 95 percent of Japan’s koma; a Tendo set carries a documented regional craft lineage, not just a “Made in Japan” label.
A carved boxwood set reads as a milestone object — it ages well and suits graduation, retirement, or a dedicated player’s first heritage set.
Weaknesses and things to verify before buying
- Grade is everything, and it was not price-captured. Written (kaki-goma), carved (hori-goma), and carved-and-filled (hori-ume-goma) sets differ enormously in price and finish. Confirm exactly which carving grade this listing sells before buying.
- Board and stand are likely not included. Koma sets are frequently sold piece-only. If you need a board (kaya or katsura) and a piece box (koma-bako), verify or budget separately.
- No live price was available. The fetched data did not include a current price; check the listing, since carved boxwood koma span a wide range.
- Kanji only. Traditional koma carry Japanese characters with no Western lettering. Beginners who cannot yet read them will need a reference chart.
- Natural wood responds to its environment. Boxwood can move slightly with humidity swings; avoid direct sun and radiators, and do not store the set sealed while it is damp.
- International shipping adds time and possible duties. Orders from Japan can take one to several weeks and may incur customs charges above your local threshold.
- “Boxwood” grading varies. Prized straight-grain (masame) shima-tsuge differs from generic boxwood; for a high-grade buy, confirm the wood and grain description with the seller.
Conclusion — which buyer type are you?
You want a carved-and-filled (hori-ume-goma) heritage set as a lifetime object. Buy by grade, confirm the wood and grain, and treat price as secondary.
You play regularly and want real carved boxwood at a sensible price. This Tendo set is squarely aimed at you — confirm grade and inclusions.
You want to play without a heritage outlay. A written (kaki-goma) Tendo set or a plastic learner set serves better — revisit carved boxwood later.
You only want to learn the rules or need an app-friendly travel set. A carved heritage set is more object than you need right now.
Other ways to approach this purchase
Amazon JP Global Store pricing shifts; if you are flexible on timing, watch the listing and buy when the JPY price or yen rate is favorable.
Well-kept older Tendo koma trade actively in Japan. A proxy service can reach domestic secondhand listings, though grading takes a careful eye.
If you hold Amazon points or a rewards card, a heritage set is a sensible place to spend them — it is a long-lived object, not a consumable.
If you are still learning the rules, a plastic set and a free app will teach the game just as well; come back for carved boxwood when the habit sticks.
Where this comes from — place, era, and the craft tradition
Tendo sits in the inland basin of Yamagata Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshu. It is a snow-country town: the surrounding mountains feed the Mogami River, and the same peaks bury the basin in white through a long winter. Timber supply and river transport gave the area the raw material and logistics a wood craft needs, and the cold, snowbound months left farming and samurai households alike with long stretches of indoor time to fill.
The craft itself was born of hardship, and of a specific decision. Tendo was the seat of the Tendo domain, ruled by a branch of the Oda family — descendants of the warlord Oda Nobunaga through his second son, Nobukatsu. By the Tenpō era of the 1830s the domain’s finances were in crisis. To give its low-ranking samurai a way to earn without losing face, a senior retainer named Yoshida Daihachi promoted the making of shogi pieces as honorable indoor side work.
His argument was pointed: crafting the pieces for a martial game of strategy did not shame a warrior.
That single rationalization seeded an industry. What began as a stipend supplement for impoverished samurai spread, after the Meiji Restoration ended those stipends entirely, into a town-wide trade. Tendo grew into the shogi-piece capital of Japan, and today it produces on the order of 95 percent of the nation’s koma. The grades run from written (kaki-goma), where the kanji are brushed on in lacquer, up through carved (hori-goma) and finally carved-and-filled (hori-ume-goma), where each carved character is filled flush with lacquer and polished. Shima-tsuge boxwood is the prized stock, and straight-grain (masame) faces are the most sought.
- 17th c. — A branch of the Oda family, descended from Oda Nobunaga’s son Nobukatsu, comes to govern the Tendo domain.
- Tenpō era (1830s) — Amid domain financial hardship, senior retainer Yoshida Daihachi promotes shogi-piece carving as honorable side work for low-ranking samurai — the origin of the industry.
- 1868 — The Meiji Restoration ends samurai stipends; piece-making spreads from the warrior class into a town-wide trade.
- Early 20th c. — Tendo consolidates as Japan’s dominant production center for shogi koma.
- Mid-20th c. — The Tendo Ningen Shogi (human chess) is staged on Maizuruyama each spring under the cherry blossoms, dramatizing the town’s identity.
- Late 20th c. — Tendo shogi pieces are recognized as a traditional Japanese craft (dentōteki kōgeihin).
- 2026 — Tendo still makes roughly 95 percent of the nation’s koma, across grades from written to carved-and-filled.
“Crafting the pieces for a martial game of strategy did not shame a warrior — and on that single argument, an impoverished domain grew into the shogi-piece capital of Japan.”
The continuity is real and visible. Tendo’s workshops still grade pieces the old way, and the town keeps its identity alive in public most vividly at the annual Ningen Shogi, held on Maizuruyama when the cherry trees are in full bloom. There, armored performers stand in for the koma on a giant outdoor board while professional players call the moves — a yearly, living reminder of what the town produces.
The region around Tendo gives the craft its cultural weight. A short distance away stands Yamadera (Risshaku-ji), the cliffside temple where the poet Matsuo Bashō wrote one of his most quoted verses — a reminder that inland Yamagata has long been a place of contemplative depth, not a backwater. The same prefecture that produces the pieces also produces the quiet that a strategy game rewards.
Yamagata is a landscape of deep snow and mountain water — the Zaō range and its Okama crater lake stand for it. The seasonal rhythm matters to the craft: the long northern winters that once kept samurai households indoors carving pieces are the same winters that shaped the region’s slow, indoor working culture. Buying a Tendo set is, in a small way, buying into that rhythm — an object made where the cold gave people the time to make things well.
🏆 Editor’s Pick
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amazon JP ship Tendo shogi sets internationally?
Many items on the Amazon JP Global Store ship to most major destinations, and shogi koma are small and light, which keeps shipping manageable. Confirm that your country is listed at checkout, and expect a delivery window of roughly one to several weeks.
What is the difference between the koma grades?
From most affordable to highest: written by lacquer brush (kaki-goma), carved (hori-goma), and carved-and-filled (hori-ume-goma), where the carved character is filled flush with lacquer and polished. Higher grades cost more and are valued as craft objects, not only as game pieces. This set is a carved (hori-goma) set — confirm the exact grade on the listing.
Is a board included with this set?
It was not confirmed in the data available for this listing. Shogi koma sets are often sold piece-only, so check the listing carefully; if you need a board (kaya or katsura) and a piece box, budget for them separately.
Can a beginner who can’t read kanji use these?
Yes, with a reference chart. Traditional koma show only Japanese characters, with no Western lettering, so a first-time player will want a printed or app-based guide to the eight piece types and their promoted faces.
How should carved boxwood pieces be cared for?
Keep them away from direct sun, radiators, and damp storage. Boxwood is natural wood and can move slightly with humidity. Wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth; do not soak, do not put them in a dishwasher or microwave, and do not store the set sealed while it is damp.
Why are Tendo pieces considered the standard?
Tendo produces roughly 95 percent of Japan’s shogi koma, a concentration built up over more than a century. The craft traces to the Tendo domain, where shogi-piece making was promoted as honorable side work for samurai in the 1830s, and the town has produced pieces across every grade ever since.
What if I want a grade not sold on Amazon?
Many Tendo grades are sold by workshops and Japan-domestic stores that do not ship abroad directly. A proxy/forwarding service such as Buyee or Tenso can purchase and re-ship those listings for a service fee.
jpmono.com is curated by a Japan-based editorial team (working out of Toyama in the Hokuriku region and Nara in Kansai) and is independent. We don’t take payment from the makers we feature; income comes from affiliate links. We don’t physically test every product — we read maker’s specs and source listings.
🤖 This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed against the source listing data. Specifications, pricing, and availability should be confirmed on the retailer’s page before purchase.
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