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!!
(gem) Hvis du er interesseret i udviklingen af en turnering du spiller i, kan du diskutere med dine modspillere i denne turnerings forum. (HelenaTanein) (vis alle tips)