Shogi, the Japanese chess variant known as the "game of generals", is enjoying a wave of popularity in its homeland thanks to a gawky teenage prodigy with a rock-star following. Shogi is played on a plain wooden board with pieces distinguished by painted Chinese characters. It has existed in its current form for about 400 years. The rules are similar to chess, with the main difference that captured pieces can switch sides and return to the board -- a practice said to stem from the mercenaries of 15th century Japan. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES