shiai

Shiai is a Japanese term meaning a contest, match, or game, used to designate an official competitive encounter between two competitors or teams. The word combines the kanji for “trial” or “test” (試) and “match” or “fit” (合), and it can refer to any face-to-face competition, from sports contests to board games and other skill tests in training contexts.

In sports and martial arts, shiai denotes a formal contest conducted under a prescribed rule set, with a referee or judges, time limits, scoring, and penalties for infractions. Examples include judo shiai, kendo shiai, karate shiai, and boxing matches in Japanese usage. The outcome is typically win, loss, or draw, and performances can influence rankings, qualifications, and progression within federations or leagues.

In board games and mind sports such as go and shogi, shiai refers to an official game between players, often part of a rating system or tournament standings. Results contribute to player rankings, titles, and official records. While shiai is sometimes used in broader or informal contexts, taikai (大会) more commonly denotes a larger-scale event comprising multiple shiai or rounds.

Shiai are organized by official bodies that establish standardized rules suited to age groups, skill levels, or weight classes in sports. They emphasize fair play, sportsmanship, and safety, with referees enforcing sanctions and, when necessary, disqualifications. The term remains a core element of Japanese competition vocabulary across disciplines.