Mini Shogi

Mini Shogi is a modern variant of traditional Japanese chess invented by Shigenobu Kusumoto in 1971. Kusumoto designed the game to be faster and more accessible than standard shogi. The smaller board size significantly reduces the duration of a typical match.

Each player commands a total of six pieces: a king, a rook, a bishop, a gold general, a silver general, and a pawn. The pieces move similarly to standard Shogi, including the ability to be promoted upon reaching the enemy camp. Drops are still allowed, creating a dynamic, fast-paced game.

The game is played on a compact 5x5 grid, which is much smaller than the traditional 9x9 Shogi board. This limited space forces players into immediate, aggressive tactical engagements. The reduced board size was intentionally chosen to accelerate the gameplay.

Just like in standard Shogi, captured pieces are not removed from play but instead become the property of the capturing player. On a subsequent turn, a player can 'drop' the captured piece back onto an empty square to fight for them. Because the 5x5 board is so small, drops often lead directly to checkmates.