Goro-Goro Dōbutsu Shōgi (2012)

Overview

A simpler version of Shogi or a more complex version of Let's Catch the Lion! (aka Dōbutsu Shōgi or animal shogi), using the illustrations and look of the latter.

Every player has just 8 pieces (3 chicks, 2 cats, 2 dogs and 1 lion) and try to catch the opponents lion. The board is 5x6 squares, so it's a shorter game than regular Shogi, aimed at getting children even more interested in Shogi after they've outgrown the original Dōbutsu Shōgi.

Goro-Goro Dobutsu Shogi not only has a bigger board (goro is a contraction of go roku which means five six in Japanese, a reference to the board, as well as goro being onomatopoeic for purring) compared to Dobutsu Shogi, it also adds in some more rules of the full Shogi game: - Reaching the other side of the board with your lion no longer wins you the game. Only capturing your opponent's lion does. - You can't have two of your own chicks in the same column/file. - You can't drop a chick for mate.

Taken from the publisher's website:

The cute animal pieces are now combined with Goro-Goro Shogi, a small shogi on 5x6 square board. This is a very good next step for everyone who has played Dobutsu Shogi.

The rules of Goro-Goro Shogi was invented by Japan Shogi Association, and is widely known to be a very good variation of shogi to learn important concepts in shogi, such as handling the generals effectively, importance of promoting a pawn, and mating the opponent's king with successive piece drops.

Cats and dogs run and play in this small board. Highly recommended. Please have fun!