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On 22 March, just before the opening of cherry blossoms in Kyoto, 32 players gathered for a 4 round 30m+30s Standard time control, National JCF rated, and one of the few last qualifier tournaments held this year: the Kyoto Championship 2026. Players and Prize Winners Group Photo With 32 players this event qualified to select 5 seeded players to go to the Japan National Championship in Tokyo during Golden Week - among whom there would be one of the 8 Kyoto local players with s

Are you passionate about chess? Do you believe the royal game can shape character, sharpen minds, and connect cultures? Caissa Osaka Chess Club  is expanding - and we’re building a powerful pool of freelance instructors who want to grow with us. We are not just running chess classes. We are building a modern chess culture in Kansai. Who We Are Caissa Osaka Chess Club is a young and ambitious chess academy based in Osaka, active in Osaka and Kobe. We work with schools, familie

Last 31 January, Kyochess, a group of chess enthusiasts led by Yuya-san, had their Knight Out! social chess meeting in cozy bar Raimunda in the center of Kyoto. Knight Out! Chess in Kyoto In a very friendly atmosphere over 10 players gathered to play a mini tournament with as main prize the people met . Indeed, chess showed again to be a powerful enabler to cross cultural/social boundaries and to connect people from diverse background. And to build connections! I was very pl

On a beautiful crisp blue-sky Saturday,18 players representing the chess federations of Japan, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, and The Netherland had gathered to face off in the traditional Osaka Wine Cup in the tatami-unique setting of the scenic Katashimo Winery. Chess at the Winery The youngest player was 6-years old Caissa student Kikyo Honda , playing his first tournament and the highest rated players were Caissa coach IM Matthew Tan , who flew in from Hong Kong, and

On 30 November 2025, Scholastic Chess in Kansai was placed on the map of scholastic activities. Endorsed by the Japan Chess Federation the 1st Kansai Scholastic Chess Tournament attracted dozens of players from the wider Kansai area.

Early this year we had a booth at a large after-school activities Expo in Hong Kong. For the first time then we created banners, visuals, thought about what presents to give, offer what kind of discount when sign up on the spot and how to compete with our neighbours who had fancy computer simulation games, bikes to ride or offered remote controlled race cars … it took 3 months of preparation. In Osaka, we started high up the learning curve and a total preparation time of 10%

We are glad to announce that the 1st Kansai Scholastic Chess Tournament on 30 November will be hosted at Abroad International School Osaka. Any student in the Kansai region can directly and individually register on the website . Provide the player's name, age and school name and you are all set to join in your own age category to play for individual prizes as well as school prizes. Join us! REGISTER

On 27 September Caissa Osaka Chess Club held its first tournament in the Higashinari Ward Center. The tournament was run as a Round Robin...