Spring Chess School 2026

 

This spring, fall even more in love with chess.

And become stronger.

 

Spend time with friends,

and develop your ability to think, decide, and win through chess.

 

Dates / Venue

Dates: March 20 (Fri, Holiday), 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 2026

All from 13:00–17:00

Venue: Chess Center UENO 

2-11-3-101 Kita-Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Map)

8 minutes on foot from Iriya Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)

9 minutes on foot from Inaricho Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)

11 minutes on foot from Ueno Station (JR / Tokyo Metro)

 

Lecturer

Woman Candidate Master Kojima Natsumi

She actively participates in national and international tournaments and works as a chess instructor at Shogi no Mori.

While working in education, she places great importance on the learning process itself and provides thoughtful, learner-centered instruction.

 

Achievements:

Winner, Japan Elementary School Chess Championship (later renamed Cadets), 2006

Member of the Japanese Women’s National Team at the Chess Olympiad: 2016, 2018, 2022

 

 

Eligibility

Elementary school students who are annual members of the Japan Chess Federation

(must know basic rules such as how to move pieces)

 

Please make sure your membership is valid through the event dates.

If you are not a member, please purchase a ticket on [Peatix] and register as a member as soon as possible.

Welcome to Japan Chess Federation

 

If a preschooler or junior high school student signs up, please purchase a Preschooler & Junior High School Student Ticket.

If the program does not reach capacity or if cancellations occur, participation may be offered.

 

What is Spring Chess School 2026?

Spring Chess School 2026 is a three-day course combining lectures and practical games.

This program is designed for elementary school students who want to move from “playing by intuition” to “thinking and winning.”

Target level: Beginner to approximately JCF national rapid rating 1500.

 

In the lectures, students will learn step by step—from basic tactics to structured thinking in real-game positions—aiming to independently apply what to look at, how to think, and how to make decisions.

 

On the final day, participants will experience a tournament-style event.

They will play games while paying attention to time management, rules, and sportsmanship, providing an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.

 

This spring, why not discover the joy of thinking and the confidence to take on challenges through chess?

 

 

Schedule

Day 1 & Day 2 (Lectures + Games)

12:30 Doors Open

12:45–13:00 Registration

13:00–13:45 Lecture ①

Break (5 min)

13:50–14:35 Lecture ②

Break (10 min)

14:45–15:30 Lecture ③

Break (5 min)

15:35–16:20 Lecture ④

Break (10 min)

16:30–17:00 Free Play (with instructor feedback)

Each lecture includes both explanation and practical exercises.

Day 3 (Tournament-Style Games)

12:30 Doors Open

12:45–13:00 Registration

13:00–13:30 Review of the previous two days

13:30–13:45 Lecture on tournament participation

13:45 Round 1

14:45 Round 2

15:45 Round 3

16:45 Awards Ceremony

Pairings will be arranged based on participants’ playing levels.

Games are unrated.

Participants may play even if they are unable to record moves.

 

Lecture content

The course will be in Japanese.

Lecture content may be subject to change.

Day 1

①  Building Positions for Battle — Creating the Foundation for Strong Chess

Recommended for students who want to:

✓  Think about why they develop pieces

✓  Learn what to do before launching an attack

✓  Build solid, “playable” positions

Day 2

②   Finding Good Moves — Thinking One Move Ahead to Win

Recommended for students who want to:

✓  Understand the difference between good and bad moves

✓  Avoid missing tactical opportunities

✓  Develop the ability to convert advantages into wins

 

Fee and Registration

Fee: ¥15,000

 

Registration: Purchase tickets through [Peatix] during the application period (Limit: 10 spots)

 

“Waiting list tickets” could be purchased only after the usual participation ticket got sold out.

 

About Waiting List Tickets(Only for members):

If a cancellation occurs, participants who purchased a waiting list ticket may join the event in order of purchase. The order of registration will be based on the order in which tickets were purchased, and the ticket fee will be accounted for as the participation fee. If there were not enough cancellations to make a spot for players in the waiting list until one week before the tournament, the ticket fee will be refunded. An e-mail will be sent to the registered address if participation becomes possible.

 

Registration period: February 10(Tue),12:00–March 17(Tue), 23:59　

 

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your participation, please be sure to email japanchess.info@gmail.com.

・Cancellation by 23:59 on March 12, 2026 (8 days before the event):

 If capacity is not reached – full refund

 If capacity has been reached – no refunds

・Cancellation after March 13, 2026 (7 days before the event):

 No refund for any reason

 If the seminar is cancelled due to a natural disaster or for reasons attributable to the organizer, a separate action will be considered.

・Refunds will be processed in accordance with Peatix regulations.

Q&A

Q. Is there a waiting room like in a regular tournament?

A. There is no waiting room. Only one accompanying parent/guardian is allowed to observe at the venue.

 

Q. Can we eat and drink at the venue?

A. Eating and drinking are allowed in Chess Center UENO on the day of the event.

 

Q. Is there anything participants need to bring?

A. There are no required items.

If you wish to record moves during games, please bring writing materials.

Others

・To protect privacy, taking photos of other participants without their permission is prohibited.

・The organizer may take photographs and videos of this event. These may be published and used on websites, SNS, video sites, magazines, and other media managed by the Japan Chess Federation. By participating, participants consent to the use of these photographs and videos.

If you do not agree to be photographed, please let us know in advance.

・If you are late or will not attend, please contact japanchess.info@gmail.com.

Please refer to the “Cancellation Policy” for a refund of the participation fee.

・The Japan Chess Federation is not responsible for any problems that occur between individuals.

・If there is a discrepancy between English and Japanese, the Japanese version prevails.