Editorial: 1st female head of Japan Shogi Association raises hope for new era in game
Women's shogi player Ichiyo Shimizu, who holds a seventh-dan ranking in the game, has been appointed as the new president of the Japan Shogi Association. It is the first time in the association's more than 100-year history that a woman has assumed the role. We have great expectations that this move will open a new era in the world of shogi.
Including Shimizu's predecessor Yoshiharu Habu, the past five presidents had all won the Meijin title, making this a groundbreaking appointment.
For a long time, the association's operations have been managed primarily by male professional shogi players. Both men and women can become regular pro players by either advancing through the training institution known as the Shoreikai or passing the professional player entrance exam, but no woman has achieved this so far.
Women have been active under the separate "joryu kishi," or "women's professional shogi player" system, which aims to promote their participation in the game. It was only 14 years ago that the association opened the doors for accomplished women's shogi players to become full members.
The backdrop to the latest selection likely includes the changing times that demand diversity and the active participation of women.
Shimizu became a women's professional shogi player at age 16 and has been a leading figure, having held all four major women's titles simultaneously and winning 43 titles overall. Since 2017, she has served as an executive director of the association, working to create an environment where women's shogi players can thrive.
At a news conference, Shimizu presented the slogan "inheritance and challenge," showing her commitment to preserving tradition while pursuing innovation.
In recent years, the shogi world has been enlivened by the success of Sota Fujii, who holds the Meijin title, and spectator shogi is growing with people enjoying watching matches online. However, the number of people actually playing shogi is on the decline, and shogi dojos are decreasing.
The key to expanding the base lies in the active participation of women.
At the general meeting of professional players that decided new board members, a new path was opened for women to go pro. If a woman wins the Hakurei tournament, the highest women's title, five times in total, she can become a professional player. The current Hakurei titleholder, Tomoka Nishiyama, has won the tournament three times, raising expectations she could become the first female regular professional player.
In the world of Go, there are mixed-gender general tournaments where men and women compete on the same stage. Japan has recently seen an increase in skilled female players, such as Rina Fujisawa, holder of the Women's Honinbo title, Asami Ueno, holder of the Women's Tachiaoi Cup title, and Risa Ueno, holder of the Women's Kisei title, who have achieved success in tournaments determining challengers for the seven major titles and in international competitions.
Shogi should also strive to create an environment where players can amicably compete against each other regardless of gender to raise their skill levels. This will not only expand the number of enthusiasts but also invigorate the shogi world as a whole.
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The Mainichi
5 days ago
- The Mainichi
Editorial: 1st female head of Japan Shogi Association raises hope for new era in game
Women's shogi player Ichiyo Shimizu, who holds a seventh-dan ranking in the game, has been appointed as the new president of the Japan Shogi Association. It is the first time in the association's more than 100-year history that a woman has assumed the role. We have great expectations that this move will open a new era in the world of shogi. Including Shimizu's predecessor Yoshiharu Habu, the past five presidents had all won the Meijin title, making this a groundbreaking appointment. For a long time, the association's operations have been managed primarily by male professional shogi players. Both men and women can become regular pro players by either advancing through the training institution known as the Shoreikai or passing the professional player entrance exam, but no woman has achieved this so far. Women have been active under the separate "joryu kishi," or "women's professional shogi player" system, which aims to promote their participation in the game. It was only 14 years ago that the association opened the doors for accomplished women's shogi players to become full members. The backdrop to the latest selection likely includes the changing times that demand diversity and the active participation of women. Shimizu became a women's professional shogi player at age 16 and has been a leading figure, having held all four major women's titles simultaneously and winning 43 titles overall. Since 2017, she has served as an executive director of the association, working to create an environment where women's shogi players can thrive. At a news conference, Shimizu presented the slogan "inheritance and challenge," showing her commitment to preserving tradition while pursuing innovation. In recent years, the shogi world has been enlivened by the success of Sota Fujii, who holds the Meijin title, and spectator shogi is growing with people enjoying watching matches online. However, the number of people actually playing shogi is on the decline, and shogi dojos are decreasing. The key to expanding the base lies in the active participation of women. At the general meeting of professional players that decided new board members, a new path was opened for women to go pro. If a woman wins the Hakurei tournament, the highest women's title, five times in total, she can become a professional player. The current Hakurei titleholder, Tomoka Nishiyama, has won the tournament three times, raising expectations she could become the first female regular professional player. In the world of Go, there are mixed-gender general tournaments where men and women compete on the same stage. Japan has recently seen an increase in skilled female players, such as Rina Fujisawa, holder of the Women's Honinbo title, Asami Ueno, holder of the Women's Tachiaoi Cup title, and Risa Ueno, holder of the Women's Kisei title, who have achieved success in tournaments determining challengers for the seven major titles and in international competitions. Shogi should also strive to create an environment where players can amicably compete against each other regardless of gender to raise their skill levels. This will not only expand the number of enthusiasts but also invigorate the shogi world as a whole.
SoraNews24
14-06-2025
- SoraNews24
Japan Shogi Association's Queen's Gambit for the future of female pro players
Critics claim it's an unfair advantage, but it's one step closer to equality for Japan's top women players in a male-dominated world. Shogi is often described as being the Japanese equivalent of chess, and there are certainly some similarities between the two, but the rules are distinct with a completely different set of strategies. ▼ Most sets also require being able to read some kanji to know what the pieces are. Much like chess, there is also a professional league, in which players compete for different titles through tournaments, like Meijin and Osho. Tomoka Nishiyama, holder of three women's titles, recently underwent the Professional Admissions Test to join the non-gendered general pro league only to fail at the final hurdle. Going into her final match against a professional league player with a score of two wins to two losses, and despite using the strong opening strategy she is known for, she was unable to clinch that last much-needed victory, thus failing to enter the ranks of general league professional players. Sadly, unlike pro-wrestling, your opponent is unlikely to just sit there and wait for you to unleash your signature move. ▼ 'Come. Do your worst.' Since the women's league and the general league operate under different systems, had Nishiyama been fortunate to win the match, it would have made her the first-ever female professional shogi player, as well as the sixth person to pass the Professional Admissions Test since its inception. With only four players passing the test in the last twenty years, it's not a simple feat to achieve. Not only do you need to have a track record of excellent results in tournaments against professionals just to be eligible for the test, you also need to achieve three wins in a series of games against players who have newly advanced to the ranks of professionals, after which you are given the rank of fourth dan and become a pro shogi player yourself. However, most pros follow the standard method of joining the Japan Shogi Association's Apprentice School, known as Shoreikai. Apprentices can gradually advance through the ranks through years of intense practice and competitions, living and breathing shogi and rising from first dan to second, third, and onward, unless they fail to reach fourth dan by the age of 26, in which case they face automatic expulsion. There is also the slim chance for special admission to the professional league by the JSA in very extraordinary cases, but examples of this are exceedingly rare. For pro women players, a new route to the general professional league just opened up. On June 6, the recently-elected first female JSA president in history, Ichiyo Shimizu, announced that should a player win the women's league title of Hakurei five times in total, she will earn the honorary lifetime title of Queen Hakurei, and be granted the right to enter the Free Class of professional shogi players, bypassing the test and giving them a clear path to the general ranked league. Tomoka Nishiyama, having won the title three times out of a total of four, is poised to be the first potential Queen Hakurei and first female professional shogi player in the general league. The entry point for holders of the Queen Hakurei title is shared by those who pass the Professional Admissions test: the Free Class. It is a non-league category for pro players, who are subject to a minimum number of games that must be played each year, although they have more freedom to decline matches than regular pros. It's also where demoted players from the regular league end up until they requalify. Of course, when the status quo is challenged, there will be blustering naysayers jumping out of the woodwork, and online reactions to the Queen Hakurei system haven't been entirely positive. However, with two of the strongest female players attempting a test that only a handful of men have passed since it began, and Nishiyama's challenge almost succeeding, it demonstrates that the world of women's shogi is not without talent. Perhaps with an extra route open to tread, we will soon see the first female pro player in the general league who will go on to inspire a future generation of young girls, ultimately injecting the sport with a swath of new talent. Source: NHK via Jin115, Yomiuri Shimbun Top image: Pakutaso Insert images: Pakutaso (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Kyodo News
07-06-2025
- Kyodo News
Japan's shogi board game ass'n has 1st female chief
KYODO NEWS - 5 hours ago - 09:46 | All, Japan Japan's leading shogi organization on Friday picked the first female chief in its 101-year history as part of efforts to encourage more young people, including women, to participate in the traditional Japanese board game. Ichiyo Shimizu, a pro shogi player herself, succeeded Yoshiharu Habu, a 54-year-old master, as president of the Japan Shogi Association for a two-year term. "It's a great honor to assume this significant role," Shimizu, 56, told a press conference, adding that she will work to further liven up the shogi industry by trying new things while continuing to hand down its traditions. The association also approved a new promotional rule Friday that its leaders hope will help more women become pros. The Tokyo native turned pro in 1985 and has won 43 championships in the women's league under the association. She holds the rank of seventh dan in the league. Habu took the presidential post in June 2023 and led events that marked the 100th anniversary of the association last year. In April, he said he would not serve a second term. Related coverage: Shogi prodigy Fujii loses 1 of 8 titles to rising star Ito
