A dead body is discovered in the mountains, buried with an expensive, handcrafted shogi (Japanese chess) piece. As the present-day investigation by a veteran detective and a rookie detective unfolds, it intertwines with the past of a tragic, genius shogi player, revealing the truth of a hidden tragedy. Like The Match (2025) overcame the unfamiliar subject of Go through the power of a true story, The Final Piece combines the game of shogi with mysterious elements to heighten the audience′s interest. The film, adapted from the bestselling novel The Sunflower on the Shogi Board, reveals its suspect at the very beginning, but it maintains gripping tension for the remaining two hours. Director Kumazawa Naoto meticulously weaves the aspirations and setbacks of life through the subject of shogi, and sets the pace as the detective duo travels nationwide searching for clues. Above all, the captivating performances of heartthrob Sakaguchi Kentaro and charismatic Watanabe Ken are the highlights of the film. (Karen PARK)