Satoshi Murayama is a player of shogi (Japanese chess) who learned the game from Mori over a 10 year period starting at the age of 15. In 1994, he decides to move to Tokyo to get Meijin, which is one of the seven titles in Japanese professional shogi. His parents oppose his idea because he suffers from a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. However he still moves, achieves his dream, but then he is diagnosed with cancer. Even when his doctor advises him to quit the game, have surgery and convalesce, Satoshi refuses and keeps playing shogi.