- BGG rank
- BGG #337
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Hive
- 2 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #19,370
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Tori Shogi
1799
Rules assistance for Tori Shogi
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 60 min
- 6+
- Complexity 3.5/5
Rules assistant for Tori Shogi
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tori Shogi is a board game released in 1799 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Toyota Genryu and its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
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About the game
Tori (Bird) Shogi is a delightful variant played on a 7×7 board that dates from the late 18th century. It is thought to have been the first Shogi variant to utilize drops (a mechanic in the modern version of 9×9 Shogi and absent from the original 9×9 Sho Shogi). Each piece is named after a type of bird. The royal piece (King) is the Phoenix. Other pieces include the Swallow (promotes to Wild Goose), Falcon (promotes to Eagle), Crane, Pheasant, and Quail. The goal of the game is to capture the opposing Phoenix. Somewhat of an oddity is the fact that a player's two Quail pieces are actually asymmetrical, being designated as the Left Quail and the Right Quail, with their movement capabilities mirrored. Drops are handled in a manner very similar to modern Shogi. A third swallow cannot be dropped in a file that contains two others, nor can one be dropped on the last rank, where it would not be able to move. In addition, a swallow cannot be dropped so as to give immediate mate. The promotion zone for Swallows and the Falcon consists of the opponent's back two ranks. Promoted pieces revert to their un-promoted value when they are captured (for purposes of dropping back into play).
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Public Domain)
- Kanare_Abstract
- The Shogi Association
Questions and answers
Tori Shogi supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Tori Shogi is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Tori Shogi for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Tori Shogi has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Tori Shogi belongs to these categories: Animals and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Tori Shogi are: Toyota Genryu. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Tori Shogi as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.