Synopsis

Having reached professional status in middle school, Rei Kiriyama is one of the few elite in the world of shogi. Due to this, he faces an enormous amount of pressure, both from the shogi community and his adoptive family. Seeking independence from his tense home life, he moves into an apartment in Tokyo. As a 17-year-old living on his own, Rei tends to take poor care of himself, and his reclusive personality ostracizes him from his peers in school and at the shogi hall. However, not long after his arrival in Tokyo, Rei meets Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, a trio of sisters living with their grandfather who owns a traditional wagashi shop. Akari, the oldest of the three girls, is determined to combat Rei's loneliness and poorly sustained lifestyle with motherly hospitality. The Kawamoto sisters, coping with past tragedies, also share with Rei a unique familial bond that he has lacked for most of his life. As he struggles to maintain himself physically and mentally through his shogi career, Rei must learn how to interact with others and understand his own complex emotions. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Episode Guide

Oshimeter0-5960-7980-100Upcoming

Loading episodes…

Characters

Rei Kiriyama

Orphaned shogi prodigy, Rei Kiriyama, navigates professional life and emotional trauma.

Portrayed by Lee Wendee

Hinata Kawamoto

Hinata, a loyal & caring middle schooler, is Rei's friend and later girlfriend, aspiring to be like her mature sister.

Portrayed by Hanazawa Kana

Akari Kawamoto

Akari Kawamoto, a 23-year-old who works tirelessly to support her family, balancing her confectionery shop duties with her hostess job.

Portrayed by Post Laura

Momo Kawamoto

Preschooler Momo, youngest Kawamoto sister, is pure but selfish; Rei-chan's playful friend.

Portrayed by Kuno Misaki

Community Feed

izvito★★★★☆Anime4d

rizeandreze★★★★★Anime13d

Remedy for the overstimulated. Explores emotions really well with unique art style and thoughtfully curated music.

uorseucs★★★★★Anime1 mo

I really recommend this series as it’s definitely worth checking out. The story is great, and the visuals are just as impressive. Sure, the art style might feel a bit “old-school” since it’s been around for a while, but it still holds up surprisingly well. The direction and overall presentation really carry it, and there are plenty of moments that still look genuinely stunning. As for the story, just be ready for something a bit heavy. It deals a lot with self-doubt, fear, past trauma, and the pressure of dealing with adult life—things that hit pretty close to home for a lot of people. That said, it’s not all serious all the time. It also does a nice job highlighting friendship, relationships, a bit of healthy rivalry, and even some subtle hints of romance, which helps balance things out nicely. I rate this a 9/10. A really great SoL.

28181883★★★★★VerifiedEP 221 mo

the writing remains exceptionally strong. conceptualizing shogi as a desperate ticket for human interaction reframes his childhood isolation brilliantly. merging the afterburner and shogi clubs provides a highly logical narrative solution for his socialization.