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Jishaku Game Pieces

Magnetic hematite stones on the Jishaku (Japanese word for magnet) game board. For the Looking Close on Friday challenge: "game pieces."

 

Jishaku is a portable strategy game like chess or checkers that can be played anywhere. Unlike chess, there is an element of surprise when the magnets jump out of position without warning. All magnets have north and south poles. Jishaku magnets do too. They just aren't marked and the irregular shape of the hematite stones make locating them difficult. So as you carefully place your magnet in a hole you can feel the tug of magnets all around the board. Skilled players learn to use magnetic force in their favor repelling the magnets closest to them without forcing them into other magnets. At least that's the goal but the results can be quite surprising. It's pretty fun but can be down right frustrating at times.

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Uploaded on August 28, 2025
Taken on August 28, 2025