Frank
Hello, this is Frank.
Yesterday, Sota Fujii—Ryuo and Meijin (also holding the Oi, Oza, Kisei, Kio, and Osho titles)—secured a brilliant victory in the first game of Round 2 at the JT Shogi Series Professional Official Tournament, advancing to the semifinals. Congratulations!
Despite playing second (Gote), his lightning-fast checkmate in the endgame was breathtaking. Pushing through with knight and silver while his rook kept a piercing gaze from his own camp was pure brilliance. As an amateur fan, I can’t get enough of Fujii’s aggressive finishing style. I’m already looking forward to his semifinal battle.
Today, I’d like to touch on a hot topic the media has been covering recently—Fujii’s criticism of the new “Women’s Professional System.” Under this rule, a female player who wins the top women’s title “Hakurei” five times in total can qualify as a professional player. Fujii questioned, “Is their playing strength truly guaranteed?”
Personally, I think his comment is perfectly reasonable in a merit-based world. Women players should still be required to pass the professional entry exam as before. If the concern is that this system makes it harder for women to become pros and reduces excitement, then let’s increase exchange matches at the 2-dan and 3-dan level so women can sharpen and prove their strength.
When Fujii says, “Is their playing strength truly guaranteed?” I believe he’s saying: “To become a professional, regardless of gender, you must prove it by winning.”
This isn’t just about shogi—the same principle applies in politics, corporations, and any other competitive arena.
Thank you for reading today.
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