Photo/Illutration Famed shogi player Kana Fukuma has lost two tournaments by default after her requests to reschedule matches due to pregnancy-related health issues were denied. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The shogi community is seeking greater flexibility and support for female players after a prominent figure in the board game was forced to withdraw from tournaments due to health issues related to her pregnancy.

On Oct. 30, the Japan Shogi Association acknowledged that it had rejected requests from Kana Fukuma to postpone recent title matches, citing scheduling conflicts.

As a result, Fukuma missed the chance to compete for the Hakurei and Women’s Osho titles.

“Each tournament has a fixed annual schedule, and postponing a match would affect the subsequent schedule and other tournaments,” explained Ichiyo Shimizu, an executive director of the association.

“It’s an issue that concerns all female players and organizers, making it difficult to make changes,” she said.

Currently, women have their own league, separate from male players, in the  traditional board game.

Fukuma, 32, announced her pregnancy in August and is due to give birth in December.

Starting next week, Fukuma is scheduled to compete in the best-of-three matches to defend the Kurashiki Toka, one of the five titles she currently holds.

The association is discussing the possibility of rescheduling the tournament, as she will take maternity leave immediately after the competition, from Nov. 17 to Feb. 12.

The challenges facing Fukuma have prompted the association to review its policies to ensure that female players are not unfairly disadvantaged due to pregnancy or childbirth.

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