VILLAGE Report vol.6 Yamagata Prefecture | Tendo Shogi Pieces, the Town That Makes About 90% of Japan’s Total

If you have ever picked up a shogi piece, there is a good chance it was made in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture.

According to materials published by Tendo City, the city accounts for more than about 90% of Japan’s total production of shogi pieces. A single town is responsible for almost all domestic production of one tool. Even in the world of crafts, this is an unusually high concentration.

It Began as Home Work

The beginning was not glamorous. In the late Edo period, the Oda Domain, which governed Tendo, encouraged its financially struggling retainers to make shogi pieces as side work. This is said to be the starting point. Handwork begun for a living eventually became Japan’s leading production area. In 1996, it was designated a national traditional craft.

Writing, Carving, Raising

There are stages of shogi pieces based on differences in finishing. “Written pieces,” where characters are written directly with a brush; “carved pieces,” where the characters are carved; “carved-and-filled pieces,” where lacquer is filled into the carved areas and leveled; and “raised pieces,” where the lacquer is built up further. The higher the grade, the more labor is involved.

The same tool, a “piece,” can change greatly in price depending on the finish. The difference is not the material; it is mostly human time. The price tag on a craft is also, in other words, a price tag on someone’s time.

Last time, we visited Odate magewappa from Akita Prefecture It was. Next time, we visit Obori Soma ware in Fukushima Prefecture.

References: Tendo City; Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry

—The Value Village Editorial Team

Photo: さかおり / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)