Kurushima Kinai

Who is Kurushima Kinai?

Kurushima Kinai, also known as Kurushima Yoshita and Kurushima Yoshihiro, was a Japanese mathematician in the Edo period.

The Japanese board game of shogi attracted Kurushima's interest; and he was recognized in his own time as a master player. Among shogi players, he continues today to be well known for seven "puzzle ring" gambits with subsequent sequenced maneuvers—including the "silver puzzle ring."

In his lifetime, he was recognized among the most prominent intellectuals. His mathematical gift was highly esteemed. Kurushima, like most of his contemporaries, was very interested in the mathematical problems involved in "magic squares."