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The 5th Takarazuka Shogi Festival: A Celebration of Strategy and Community

The much-anticipated Takarazuka Shogi Festival is back, scheduled for October 17, 2026, at Amanoiwaki Park in Takatsuki City, Osaka. Now in its fifth iteration, this event is dedicated to promoting shogi, the traditional Japanese board game known for its deep strategy and intellectual challenge.

This year, the festival welcomes the PR ambassador for "Shogi Town Takatsuki," Tsuru no Goishi, along with a lineup of renowned professional shogi players. Visitors can expect riveting public matches, engaging talks, and exclusive signings by popular manga artist Megumi Ina, creator of the beloved comic "Shogi no Watanabe-kun."

Festival Highlights

The day promises an array of activities for both seasoned players and newcomers alike:

• - Public Matches: Witness exciting pair matches that pit East against the West.
• - Talk Shows: Gain insights from professional players sharing their thoughts and strategies.
• - Parents and Kids Training Matches: A great opportunity for families to engage in friendly competition (pre-registration required).
• - Tsumeshogi Lecture: A valuable session for learning strategies involved in this form of shogi (pre-registration required).
• - Manga Signing: Meet Manga artist Megumi Ina and get your comic signed (pre-registration required).
• - Original Piece Making Workshop: Create your own shogi pieces to take home as a souvenir.
• - Free Match Area: An open section for enthusiasts to play and practice their skills.

Featured Professional Shogi Players

Attendees can look forward to appearances from several top players, including:

• - Koji Tanigawa, the 17th Meijin
• - Akira Watanabe, 9th Dan
• - Bun'go Fukuzaki, 9th Dan
• - Takayuki Yamazaki, 9th Dan
• - Tenhiko Sato, 9th Dan
• - Masahiko Urano, 8th Dan
• - Masataka Sugimoto, 8th Dan
• - Makoto Tobe, 7th Dan
• - Wakamu Deguchi, 6th Dan
• - Yuta Komori, 5th Dan
• - Sayaka Nakazawa, Women’s 2nd dan
• - Saki Kawamata, Women’s 2nd dan
• - Rei Taketomi, Women’s 2nd dan
• - Kayoko Sasaki, Women’s 1st dan
• - Mikoto Umezawa, Women’s 1st dan

(Note: Players' ranks are accurate as of July 27, 2026)

Event Details

• - Date: October 17, 2026, from 9:45 AM to 5:00 PM (Tentative)
• - Location: Amanoiwaki Park, 12-3 Hachijo Mato, Takatsuki City, Osaka
• - Admission: Free

Important Notes

• - Attendees are not permitted to ask professional players for photos or autographs directly.
• - Event content and participants may change, so please check the official website for updates.
• - There will be live internet coverage and potential post-event media exposure, so anticipate being in the limelight!
• - Event activities and locations may change due to weather or other circumstances.

As we approach the date, stay tuned for updates on the festival through the special Takatsuki Shogi Town website. The Takarazuka Shogi Festival is organized by Pony Canyon as part of the Shogi Town Takatsuki initiative for 2026.

Join us for a day jam-packed with shogi, fun, and a chance to build connections within the community! Don’t miss out on this wonderful celebration of culture and strategy!