About the Magazine
Ginkammuri magazine is a monthly illustrated publication and one of the projects of the Ginkammuri Club. It is distributed to subscribers in two formats:
- digital (PDF),
- print (A5 format, glossy 120 gsm paper).
Subscribers receive a link to the digital copy via the subscription service. The print version is mailed directly to their mailbox, with delivery costs included in the subscription fee. Print edition subscribers also get access to the digital version.
The digital edition of the first issue (January 2025) is available for free preview and download.
About the Ginkammuri Club
Shogi has been actively developing in the capital of Belarus since 2000. Initially, it was a small group of enthusiasts that remained modest in size for a long time. This was due to difficulties in attracting new players who could not only replace those leaving but also consistently increase the number of participants. Everything changed when a strategic decision was made not to search for players, but instead to cultivate and nurture shogi fans from within.
Since 2010, children's shogi classes have been held in Minsk, with up to a hundred children attending annually. The total number of trainees over the years is now approaching fifteen hundred. With the growth in the number of players came qualitative development — sporting successes followed. Representatives of the Minsk shogi school have become prize winners in international tournaments, been invited to participate in Japanese competitions, ranked among the top European players, and repeatedly won the main continental championship.
As the trainees grew older, the children’s groups became limiting for Minsk players. In 2017, the Ginkammuri Club was founded, which is perhaps the only fully-fledged shogi club outside Japan today. By “fully-fledged,” we mean that it is not just a place for meetings, regular classes, and tournaments, but also a center and a natural continuation of the traditions of the Minsk shogi community — an essential stage in its (the community’s) development.