Caissa Osaka Chess Club

01/08/2026

Quick reminder about our upcoming tournaments:

The Caissa Pre-Classic Rapid (FIDE-rated, 6 rounds, 15+3) in Kyoto is just around the corner. We are approaching the 50-player mark, with three International Masters already in the field. Don't miss out on what is, in Caissa's humble opinion, the hottest chess tournament of the summer!

https://www.caissajp.com/event-details/caissa-pre-classic-rapid-fide-rated-nationally-rated

For our younger chess enthusiasts, the HJIS Scholastic will take place on 13 September in Yokohama. Students from all over Japan are expected to compete for trophies and glory at Horizon Japan International School this autumn. We expect strong participation from players across the Kanto region, but we also hope to see many players from Kansai join the fun and take their shot at making their mark on Japanese youth chess.

https://www.caissajp.com/event-details/hjis-yokohama-1st-kanto-open-scholastic-chess-tournament

26/06/2026

Tournament Report: Hiroto Tanaka Wins the 15th Osaka Wine Cup!

Last weekend, we held the 15th edition of the Osaka Wine Cup—one of Japan's most unique chess tournaments.

Players from Japan and abroad gathered inside a historic winery surrounded by vineyards, temples, and traditional Japanese countryside to compete in six nationally rated rounds. As always, the tournament featured plenty of fighting chess, memorable games, and a relaxed atmosphere away from the board.

Congratulations to Hiroto Tanaka, who claimed clear first place with an impressive 5½/6, ahead of Jingfei (2nd) and Melody (3rd).

Our full tournament report includes highlights from several exciting games, photos from the venue, and a look at what makes the Osaka Wine Cup such a special event.

We hope you enjoy the read—and perhaps we'll see some of you at a future tournament in Japan!

https://www.caissajp.com/post/hiroto-tanaka-is-the-winner-of-the-15th-osaka-wine-cup

24/06/2026

FIDE-Rated Blitz Chess in Kyoto – Only 13 Spots Left!

We're excited to announce one of Japan's pioneering FIDE-rated Blitz tournaments, and the response has already been fantastic.

So far we have 17 registered players representing 6 different federations, making this a truly international event.

⚡ Time Control: 5+3
♟️ 10 FIDE-rated games
🏆 Trophies for top finishers
🌏 Players from 6 federations already registered

With a maximum capacity of just 30 players, more than half the spots are already gone and we expect the remaining seats to fill quickly.

If you're based in Japan—or happen to be visiting—and are looking for a chance to earn official FIDE Blitz rating points while competing in a strong international field, we'd love to see you there.

Feel free to share this with other players who may be interested!

Registration details: https://www.caissajp.com/ja/event-details/1st-kansai-blitz-masters-kbm

://www.caissajp.com/event-details/1st-kansai-blitz-masters-kbm

16/06/2026

On 31 May, around 80 students from 20 different schools gathered at MBIS Kobe for the 1st MBIS Kobe Scholastic Chess Tournament. From beginners playing their first tournament to experienced competitors, players enjoyed a full day of exciting games, sportsmanship, and new friendships. 🏆

A big thank you to all students, parents, teachers, volunteers, arbiters, and the team at MBIS Kobe for making this event such a success. Events like these show how chess brings together young people from different schools, cultures, and backgrounds while developing critical thinking, concentration, and resilience.

Congratulations to all prize winners—and especially to every player who had the courage to sit down at the board and give their best!

📖 Read the full tournament report, results, and photo gallery here:
https://www.caissajp.com/post/1st-mbis-kobe-scholastic-chess-tournament-great-chess-and-fun

We are already looking forward to the next scholastic chess event! ♟️✨

On 31 May 2026, some 80 students from 20 different schools, one from as far as Okayama, gathered in Kobe, in the beach town Suma-ku, where the Marist Brothers International School (MBIS) Kobe is located. Although the weather was good enough for beach activities, players and their parents, teachers a...

15/05/2026

The whole Caissa team congratulates Kan Nakahara on winning the 2026 Japan Chess Championship. We are proud and honored to have such a tremendous player and trainer in our rows!! May the FM title follow soon!

17/04/2026

The 1st MBIS Kobe Open Scholastic Chess Tournament will be held at Marist Brothers International School on Sunday, May 31st.

This tournament is limited to elementary, middle, and high school students. In addition to individual trophies, a school trophy can also be awarded. However, there is no need to form a team beforehand; individual applications are accepted.

Currently, opportunities for young chess players who have chosen chess as a hobby are still limited in Japan. For chess players, just like in other sports, playing in a competitive setting is a rewarding experience that tests their achievements.

We hope this will be a new foundation for building the future of school chess in Western Japan. We look forward to your participation!

https://www.caissajp.com/ja/1st-mbis-kobe-scholastic

17/04/2026

Many chess players will likely be traveling to Tokyo during Golden Week for tournaments like the GW Open and national championships.

For those who want to continue playing chess, or are looking for opportunities to play in the Kansai region, I highly recommend the 1st Kansai Rapid Masters, hosted by the Caissa Osaka Chess Club. While a FIDE ID is required as it's an official FIDE tournament, participants from federations outside of Japan will be joining, making it a very interesting event.

For more details, please check the link below:

https://www.caissajp.com/ja/event-details/1st-kansai-rapid-masters

14/04/2026

We had an amazing time at the OWIS Spring Carnival -what a fantastic event filled with energy, great people, and plenty of chess! For our recap have a look at our blog:

Some readers may remember our report on the Sakishima Children EXPO 2025, where we had the pleasure of meeting dozens of families - many curious about our chess classes and tournaments, and others simply enjoying a friendly game with friends, family, or members of the Caissa team.Last Saturday (Apri...

03/04/2026

Here's our report on the recent Kyoto Chess Championship 2026! It was a highly competitive tournament with numerous games that lasted over 60 moves. We look forward to seeing many of you at another tournament soon!

https://www.caissajp.com/post/kyoto-chess-championship-2026-kobayashi-atsuhiko-champion-of-kyoto