Ryuuou no Oshigoto!

Shogi, a Japanese game similar to chess, is one of the most popular board games in the country, played by everyone from children to the elderly. Some players are talented enough to take the game to a professional level. The title of Ryuuou, meaning "the dragon king," is only awarded to the person who reaches the pinnacle of competitive shogi.

Yaichi Kuzuryuu has just become the youngest Ryuuou after winning the grand championship. However, the shogi community is unwelcoming to his victory, some even calling him the worst Ryuuou in history. Moreover, he forgets about the agreement he made with Ai Hinatsuru, a little girl he promised to coach if he won. After she shows up at his doorstep, he reluctantly agrees to uphold his promise and makes Ai his disciple.

Together, they aim to improve and exceed the limits of their shogi prowess: Ai, to unlock her hidden talents; Yaichi, to prove to the world that he deserves his accomplishments.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sora, Ginko Main

Kanemoto, Hisako Japanese

Hinatsuru, Ai Main

Hidaka, Rina Japanese

Yashajin, Ai Main

Sakura, Ayane Japanese

Kuzuryuu, Yaichi Main

Uchida, Yuuma Japanese

d'Izoard, Charlotte Supporting

Ogura, Yui Japanese

Kiyotaki, Keika Supporting

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Sainokami, Ika Supporting

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Oishi, Asuka Supporting

Shinoda, Minami Japanese

Kannabe, Ayumu Supporting

Okamoto, Nobuhiko Japanese

Rokuroba, Tamayo Supporting

Ichimichi, Mao Japanese

Iizuka, Aya Producer

Shioya, Yoshiyuki Producer

Ozawa, Fumihiro Producer

Yamazaki, Fumiki Producer

Reviews

Aug 5, 2025

shao12138

Recommended

Finally, a loli anime that is truly made with love, and delivered with passion.

A lot of CGDCT anime, especially with lolis, fall into the trap of mediocrety. The characters are introduced, but the story is bland, and the characters act as flat troupes. Ryuuou no Oshigoto is not one of those. This anime has a gripping pacing in its story. A wide range of scenes that can be dramatic, sweet, or emotional are all delivered excellently.

Despite not understanding anything about shogi, the anime was thoroughly enjoyable. The explanations work for both skilled shogi enjoyers and non shogi players. The details of the match is genuine, ... whilst still dramatical as an anime should be.

Every character is unique and vibrant, cute and endearing in their own way. The lolis in the anime are the focus, not a side gag. The characters demonstrate many sides of themselves and their growth.

The animations are superb quality, highlighting the impact of emotions during every frame. The music perfectly fits the theme as well.

There is no romance, rather just a mildly implied harem. Despite so, the cute relationship between the lolis and the main character still make it a very enjoyable watch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jul 27, 2025

VanVeleca

Mixed Feelings

To understand what is happening, or even basic dialogue in this anime, you have to understand how to play shogi. I did not and still do not know anything about shogi. I don't understand how you play it, I don't get any of the terms, everytime the characters stood there and explained what was happening like a yugioh side character it just confused me more.

I just came for loli fanservice but was instead left confused and with a headache most of the time, the more it went on the dumber I felt because I could not understand ANYTHING about how this fucking game is ... played. Some of the other reviews talk about how you can enjoy the anime even without understanding shogi, but that is only very specifically if you don't give a shit about the story, at all.

I was actually pretty invested in the story and about Ai becoming a great player, but my invest quickly fled as I had zero clue on what she was even doing. How is she improving? What did she do wrong? What should she focus on?...Well, my lack of understanding the game is not the only reason I stopped caring about Ai, as well as the rest of the cast.

The general character writing is just not very good. The only ones with some sort of deep writing are just Ai, Ginko and Keika, and that is a detriment because a TON of characters are introduced within a span of 12 episodes. So many characters that just do not get to shine, like at all, they have their token gimmicky personality shown off and are then thrown away or barely show up. For example, I was very excited when I recognized a character was voiced by Oka-san (Okamoto Nobuhiko) and was promptly let down as I realized he just stopped showing up.

Other anime, especially sports ones and romcoms, do this too, but the reason it pissed me off so much here is because every time it SEEMED like this character was important or would show up more but then was just GONE. I was extremely surprised when the blind man showed up again because I though he was another character that gets introduced and then promptly pushed to the side for a new pair of jingling keys.

Ginko is the childhood friend with a sadistic ice queen gimmick, she's the worst one by default due to not only being a non-loli but also due to the fact that she is a mega bitch that constantly gets away with being the absolute worst towards others for NO reason other than maybe being jealous that they are hanging out with Yaichi.

Keika sucks as well but due to different reason, they constantly make a big deal about how it's her last chance to become a shogi master as she's starting to get too old for the early competitive scene, but I really didn't give a shit because #1 non-loli love interest and #2 It never seemed like Keika gave a shit about this game and she was instead just trying to make her dad proud.

Ai is the main heroine yet she never did anything that was actually interesting. Her pillow humping thing whenever she focused was cute but overall she's just...there. Because it throws so many side characters within a short time span we don't even get to spend much time with her actually, she seems to spent a lot of time with Yaichi offscreen more than they do onscreen. At one point I even liked the other Ai more (until she vanished once her story arc was done and over with.)

If you enjoy cute little girls, you can skip the shogi battles and just enjoy the fanservice. You are really not missing much story wise.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 26, 2025

rinrin_chou

Not Recommended

I started the series not knowing anything about Shogi, and I ended the series knowing nothing about Shogi.
I was hopeful it would explain things better, or at least introduce the game to uneducated viewers, (like myself), but no. So if you want to learn about the game through an anime, this one isn't for you. You can also just read the rules online, or just rawdog it like I did.


The constant loli baiting was so tiresome and repetitive.

I had a feeling the show would follow and favor the loli characters over everyone else, but unlike most loli characters, these ones are frankly annoying. They ... were forcibly trying to be cute the entire time and it grew incredibly tiresome practically immediately. I honestly wished Ai would get hit by a plane, (I didn't want her to get hit by a car or van due to the risk of her being isekai'd)

Obviously the main character had a "power of friendship" moment after he had treated everyone close to him badly. He apologized to mostly everyone, but the one character who he actually treated the worst. He was later reminded he never apologized, and it's mentioned a few more times, but he genuinely just never apologizes to her and that's when the series ended. Are you serious? The one character who he actually has chemistry with, and won't land him in prison?

Reviewer’s Rating: 3

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	Poll: Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 ) Stark700 - Jan 8, 2018	167 replies	by nightjasmine »» Nov 2, 2025 1:57 PM
	Poll: Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Mar 26, 2018	115 replies	by Cute_and_Cunny »» Jul 13, 2025 7:57 AM
	Poll: Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Jan 22, 2018	139 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Jul 3, 2025 4:51 PM
	Poll: Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Jan 15, 2018	123 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Jul 3, 2025 4:43 PM
	Poll: Ryuuou no Oshigoto! Episode 10 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Mar 12, 2018	106 replies	by GureJoestar »» Mar 5, 2025 9:26 PM