VOX POPULI: Gender gap in professional shogi poses a complex puzzle

Asahi Shimbun

25-04-2025

Tomoka Nishiyama, a professional shogi player, after losing the fifth game of an exam match during an attempt to become the first female professional player in the regular league (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The system of 'joryu kishi,' which recognizes women as professional players of shogi, a traditional Japanese board game similar to chess, was established in 1974 by the Japan Shogi Association.
At the time, there was a significant skill gap between men and women in the world of shogi, and all professional players, or 'kishi,' were male.
The creation of the joryu kishi system aimed to provide a separate platform for women, encouraging their active participation and growth within the game.
The system was designed with the hope that, over time, 'josei kishi'—women who would be recognized as full-fledged professional players under the same criteria as male kishi—would emerge.
Half a century has passed since the establishment of the joryu kishi system, and we are now on the brink of seeing a woman break through.
However, no woman has yet achieved the rank of kishi—a professional player of 4-dan or higher who belongs to the association.
In the world of professional chess, where there was once a significant gender gap, women have long been prominent participants. So why hasn't the same happened in shogi?
The Japan Shogi Association is now planning to create a new system allowing joryu kishi players to join the ranks of kishi, regardless of gender. It is said that a path will be opened for women to become kishi based solely on their performance in women's tournaments, without the need to compete directly against men.
Given that the path to becoming a professional player is already challenging for men, this proposal has sparked both support and opposition.
'We hope this initiative will inspire joryu kishi players to aim even higher,' said Yoshiharu Habu, president of the association and one of the most legendary figures in the game's history.
Habu is known for his 'magic'—a unique mastery that can transform even the most ordinary-looking moves, not to mention brilliant tactical ones, into decisive elements on the board as the game unfolds.
What will come of this move he's made now?
From an outsider's perspective, it seems there are other reforms that deserve attention first.
With the current grueling tournament schedules, the intellectual rigor of shogi is increasingly becoming a test of physical endurance—potentially placing female players at a disadvantage.
The case of a pregnant player being forced to forfeit a match due to health issues starkly highlights how outdated some of the system's assumptions remain.
Akiko Takojima, the first joryu kishi, once wrote: 'The 'male and female' 'tsume shogi' (mating puzzle) is too difficult for me—it makes me sigh.'
In truth, there is no such thing as 'women's shogi' or 'men's shogi.'
There is only the pure pursuit of the highest level of play, and the genuine joy of those who dedicate themselves to the game. So what, then, is standing in the way?
—The Asahi Shimbun, April 25
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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.