Katsuwo, creator of Mitsuboshi Colors and Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu, is back with a new manga called Ōja no Ban Kuruwase: Net Shōgi no Teiō, Riaru Taikai de Chōjō o Mezasu. Adapted from Renren II’s light novel, the series officially began serialization in Comic Dengeki Daioh on September 28, 2026, and follows an online shogi master who steps into real-life tournaments.
Katsuwo Returns With a New Shogi Manga
The manga Ōja no Ban Kuruwase: Net Shōgi no Teiō, Riaru Taikai de Chōjō o Mezasu began serialization in Comic Dengeki Daioh on September 28, 2026. Katsuwo draws the manga, based on the light novel of the same name by author Renren II.
The manga debuted in Comic Dengeki Daioh’s special 13th-anniversary issue and was featured prominently on the issue’s cover.
It’s Katsuwo’s new project after familiar series such as Mitsuboshi Colors and Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu. While the earlier works focused heavily on everyday life and comedy, Ōja no Ban Kuruwase takes the creator into the world of shogi, combining battles of wits with a school setting.
Watanabe Masayoshi Is an Online Shogi Master
The protagonist of Ōja no Ban Kuruwase is Watanabe Masayoshi, a high school boy with a fairly ordinary appearance and life. In the world of online shogi, however, he has a completely different reputation.
Masayoshi goes by the handle “Jimei-tei” and is known as an extremely skilled online player. He once aimed to become a professional, but a defeat made him give up on that path.
After that, shogi became just a hobby for him. Masayoshi’s life starts to change, however, when he joins his school’s shogi club.
From there, Masayoshi’s shogi skills, previously shown only online, get the chance to be tested in real matches.
From Online Shogi to Real Tournaments
One of the manga’s central threads is Masayoshi stepping out of the online shogi world to take part in real tournaments.
He gets the chance to compete in the Kōryū-sen, a nationwide shogi tournament for amateur players. It’s an opportunity for Masayoshi to face opponents in person rather than only through a screen.
Joining the shogi club also brings Masayoshi closer to other players. He has to learn to practice with teammates, adapt to a competitive environment and handle the pressure of having his moves watched live.
So the story isn’t just about shogi games. Ōja no Ban Kuruwase also explores how Masayoshi builds new relationships and gradually rediscovers the goal he once gave up.
A Manga Adapted From Renren II’s Light Novel
Before the manga version, Ōja no Ban Kuruwase began as a web novel. It follows an online shogi master who enters real-life tournaments but is treated as a newcomer by the people around him.
After attracting readers’ attention, the work was published as a light novel by Micro Magazine. The first volume was released on March 21, 2026, followed by the second volume in April 2026.
The light novel is written by Renren II with illustrations by Fujiko. It combines shogi, competition and comedic situations in a school setting.
The manga version is now handled by Katsuwo and has begun running in Comic Dengeki Daioh. Having gone from web novel to light novel and now to manga, Masayoshi’s story is expanding into a new format to reach more readers.
Ōja no Ban Kuruwase Blends Shogi and School Life
Rather than focusing only on matches, Ōja no Ban Kuruwase builds its story on the contrast between Masayoshi’s online image and his real life.
On one side is a well-known online shogi master; on the other is a fairly reserved high school boy trying to rediscover his goal. This contrast creates many situations as Masayoshi steps into real competition.
Katsuwo’s involvement also gives the manga a style that mixes shogi with comedy. For readers who know Mitsuboshi Colors or Hitoribocchi no Marumaru Seikatsu, it’s a notable new project in the creator’s career.
Ōja no Ban Kuruwase: Net Shōgi no Teiō, Riaru Taikai de Chōjō o Mezasu officially began running in Comic Dengeki Daioh on September 28, 2026.
Source: Compiled from multiple reports.