In brief
The Japanese chess association recently faced backlash from shogi player Kana Fukuma, who criticized a rule that excludes pregnant players from title matches. The rule, which necessitates their replacement during a crucial 14-week period around childbirth, raises questions about reproductive rights and career prospects for women in competitive shogi. Fukuma's call for reform highlights the need for better support for female players balancing motherhood and professional commitments.
A Japanese chess association has apologized to a prominent shogi player who criticized a rule that bars pregnant players from title matches around their expected due dates.
Under the current rules of shogi - a game similar to chess - such players are replaced, meaning they forfeit all competitions and potential titles during that time.
Kana Fukuma, one of Japan's most decorated shogi players, says this forces players to choose between having a child and developing their careers, and significantly restricts reproductive rights.
I hope the body will consider allowing female players to take time off before their due dates without suffering demotion, she told a news conference on Wednesday.
Current rules stipulate that a pregnant woman cannot compete within a 14-week period - from six weeks before they give birth to eight weeks after.
I hesitated to have a child while pursuing my career in shogi, which is everything to me, Ms. Fukuma said, according to Japan's Kyodo News.
The 33-year-old has been playing the popular Japanese board game professionally since 2003. Before giving birth to her first child in December 2024, however, Ms. Fukuma was forced to withdraw from several tournaments due to health issues related to her pregnancy.
In a written request submitted on Tuesday, Ms. Fukuma urged the association to adjust match dates or venues to accommodate pregnant players, allow competition during pregnancy if the woman's condition allows for it, and ensure women are not stripped of titles during their maternity leave, Kyodo News reported.
The association said it could revise the rules after discussions with experts while considering the safety of the mother and the fairness of title matches.
This exchange between Ms. Fukuma and the shogi association drew mixed responses on social media, with some calling the current rules misogynistic and others drawing comparisons to professional sports tournaments.
On Reddit, one user pointed out that tennis players are sometimes given protected rankings, which allow those returning from long injuries or maternity leave to use their previous rankings to enter major tournaments, including the Grand Slam.
