穴熊(あなぐま)

あなぐま
noun
badger
1. badger
A stocky mammal with a distinctive black and white striped face, known for digging burrows.
穴熊(あなぐま)は夜行性(やこうせい)の動物(どうぶつ)です。
Badgers are nocturnal animals.
穴熊(あなぐま)は地面(じめん)に深(ふか)い穴(あな)を掘(ほ)って住(す)みます。
Badgers dig deep burrows in the ground to live in.
穴熊(あなぐま)は雑食性(ざっしょくせい)で、虫(むし)や果物(くだもの)を食(た)べる。
Badgers are omnivorous and eat insects and fruit.
2. anaguma castle (shogi)
A defensive formation in Japanese chess where the king is protected in a corner.
将棋(しょうぎ)で穴熊(あなぐま)の囲(かこ)いを作(つく)りました。
I built an anaguma formation in shogi.
穴熊(あなぐま)囲(がこ)いは守(まも)りが固(かた)いが、組(く)み立(た)てるのに手数(てかず)がかかる。
The anaguma castle has strong defense, but it takes many moves to build.
相手(あいて)が穴熊(あなぐま)に囲(かこ)ったので、端(はし)攻(ぜ)めで崩(くず)すことにした。
Since my opponent built an anaguma castle, I decided to break it down with an edge attack.

穴熊(あなぐま) literally means "hole bear" (穴(あな) = hole, 熊(くま) = bear), referring to its burrowing habit and bearlike appearance.

The Japanese badger (日本穴熊(にほんあなぐま)) is native to Japan.

In shogi:

  • 穴熊(あなぐま)囲(がこ)い is a very strong defensive castle
  • The king is tucked in a corner with many pieces protecting it
  • Difficult to break but slow to set up

Related:

  • 狸(たぬき) (tanuki/raccoon dog) - sometimes confused with badgers

Counter: 匹(ひき)

general
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.3.6 15:46
04500/04953_anaguma