1,000 year old shogi pieces are Japan’s earliest shogi pieces found in Kashihara city, Nara prefecture

Thousand-year-old “koma” chess pieces from Kashihara city, Nara prefecture, 17 pieces in all, including a “king” piece — these are the earliest shogi game pieces ever found in Japan.
Shogi is the most popular form of chess and board game played in Japan. Shōgi means general’s (shō 将) board game (gi 棋).... read more.................


Source:

http://heritageofjapan.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/1000-year-old-shogi-pieces-are-japans-earliest-shogi-pieces-found-in-kashihara-city-nara-prefecture/