rook; hisha
The shogi piece that moves any number of squares orthogonally; equivalent to the rook in Western chess. Promotes to 竜王 (dragon king).
I was able to capture the opponent's rook because of their carelessness.
The rook is one of the most powerful pieces in shogi.
He promoted the rook to a dragon king.
The rook entered enemy territory and promoted.
Early in the game, he shifted his rook to the side to set up an attacking formation.
飛車 moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically, while 角行 moves diagonally, so beginners often mix up which piece goes which way.
飛車 is the piece in its normal state, while 竜王 is what it becomes after promotion, gaining an extra one-square diagonal move.
ルーク is the rook piece in Western chess, while 飛車 is the equivalent piece in Japanese shogi, so the two are not interchangeable despite similar roles.
Literally “flying chariot.” The name is attested for a shogi piece by the early seventeenth century and evokes its unrestricted movement along ranks and files; the same compound had earlier meant a vehicle that flies.