Ryu to Ichigo (Dragon and Strawberry) 龍と苺

Ryu to Ichigo – Manga Review

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

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Overview

Ryu to Ichigo (龍と苺, literally Dragon and Strawberry) is a shogi-themed manga written and illustrated by Mitsuharu Yanamoto. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday (Shogakukan) since issue #25 of 2020.
Set in a world where no woman has yet become a professional shogi player, the story follows a gifted middle school girl who enters this traditionally male-dominated arena with pure, fearless ambition.

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Plot Summary

The story begins when Ichigo Aida, a 14-year-old girl with little interest in school life, encounters shogi through her school counselor and former principal, Tatsuo Miyamura. Though she knows nothing about the game, her intensity and intuition impress her mentor from the very first match.

Ichigo soon participates in local and national tournaments, gradually facing professional players in the prestigious Ryuo (Dragon King) Championship. As the story progresses, she not only learns about shogi but also about the weight of competition, human pride, and mortality.
Her mentor’s declining health becomes a powerful emotional thread, culminating in a breathtaking title match where Ichigo, fueled by both talent and desperation, achieves an almost mythical victory — the “move of the gods.”

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Main Characters

Ichigo Aida
The protagonist — a bold, sharp-tongued, and fiercely independent middle schooler who discovers a natural talent for shogi. Despite her impulsive nature and lack of experience, she learns rapidly, challenging adults and professionals with both wit and instinct.

Tatsuo Miyamura
Ichigo’s mentor and a former principal who now works as a school counselor. He introduces her to shogi and becomes her emotional anchor. While stern and pragmatic, his mentorship shapes Ichigo’s view of strength and what it means to risk everything for one’s passion.

Keita Takizawa
A fellow student and the only other shogi club member at Ichigo’s school. He serves as both a friend and rival, striving to enter the professional ranks through effort rather than raw talent.

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Story Development

The narrative flows from Ichigo’s humble beginnings in local tournaments to her entry into national competitions, where she battles increasingly formidable opponents. Her rise through the Ryuo Championship — from qualifying rounds to the final title match — mirrors her inner journey of growth, defiance, and self-realization. Along the way, the manga weaves in realistic depictions of the professional shogi system, such as the Shoreikai (training group) and tournament structures, grounding its dramatic flair in authentic detail.

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Themes and Highlights

1. A Girl Against Tradition – Ichigo’s determination challenges the male-dominated structure of the shogi world, giving the story a sharp, modern edge.

2. Talent Meets Relentless Will – Her journey balances natural genius with grit and learning through failure.

3. Realism in the Shogi World – The manga incorporates actual rules, systems, and tensions from Japan’s real shogi scene, giving it unusual depth.

4. Psychological Intensity – Matches are not only about tactics but also about psychology, ego, and mind games.

5. Human Drama Beyond the Board – Ichigo’s growth, her mentor’s mortality, and the emotional stakes make this far more than a “sports” manga.

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Personal Impressions

At first glance, Ryu to Ichigo seems like a familiar “genius girl grows stronger” story, but it quickly becomes something far deeper. Ichigo’s sharp personality, her defiance of authority, and the vulnerability she hides beneath her confidence make her a uniquely compelling protagonist.

The manga’s greatest strength lies in how it portrays the emotional tension behind competition — the desire to win, the fear of failure, and the loneliness of genius. Even when Ichigo’s behavior feels abrasive, it stems from the same fire that drives her to transcend every limit placed before her.

While the pacing occasionally meanders, that unpredictability mirrors the essence of shogi itself — a game of strategy, uncertainty, and human will. Ryu to Ichigo doesn’t just tell a story about becoming stronger; it asks what it means to risk everything for a single move.

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Conclusion

Ryu to Ichigo is an intense, beautifully written story that blends realism, emotion, and competition in equal measure.
Through the fierce yet vulnerable Ichigo, it explores ambition, gender barriers, and the meaning of true strength.
Even readers unfamiliar with shogi can appreciate its raw energy and psychological depth.

If you enjoy stories about genius, growth, and the human side of competition, Ryu to Ichigo is well worth reading — a bold, inspiring take on both shogi and life itself.