Fwiffo: I wish to add: don't lost courage because the japanese signs on the pieces. After some games you will become very used. I know about what I say, because personaly I didn't found that so weird after +/- 10 games.
It is also the very sole mean to learn Shogi, all articles are with those characters and Shogi deserved that little training ;-).
Enjoy!!
(hide) If you want to play a game with an opponent of a similar level, you can define a required BKR range for a new game invitation. Then nobody with a BKR outside this range will be able to see/accept it. (Katechka) (show all tips)