Female Shogi Champion Calls for Measures for Pregnant Players

Osaka, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Female shogi champion Kana Fukuma on Wednesday called on the Japan Shogi Association to review its rules, which currently make it difficult for pregnant women to participate in major title matches. At a press conference in the western city of Osaka, Fukuma, 33, argued that the current rules pose serious human rights issues. She also called for abolishing a system in which female players who cannot participate in title matches due to pregnancy lose by default. In April, the association introduced a rule effectively barring pregnant players from title matches that overlap with a period of 14 weeks around the expected date of childbirth. This rule “forces us to choose between participating in title matches and giving birth to a baby,” said Fukuma. “It significantly restricts women’s reproductive rights.” Fukuma, who currently holds six of the eight major titles for female shogi players, gave birth in December last year, but lost a title match by default during her pregnancy. “I felt depressed because I thought I wouldn’t be able to have a second child” under the current rules, she said. Fukuma proposed an interim champion system to guarantee the status of title holders who cannot participate in title matches due to pregnancy. Following Fukuma’s press conference, the association released a statement saying that it is considering a more flexible system while consulting with relevant experts. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]