Japanese chess player calls out pregnancy bias at chess federation

The Japan Chess Federation has apologized to a prominent shogi player who criticized a rule that bars pregnant players from participating in championship matches around their due date.

Under current rules for shogi, a chess-like game, such players are replaced, meaning they lose all matches and potential titles during that period.

Kana Fukuma, one of Japan’s most famous shogi players, said this forces players to choose between having children and developing careers and “severely limits reproductive rights.”

“I hope the body will consider allowing female athletes to rest before their due date without downgrading,” she told a news conference on Wednesday.

Current rules state that pregnant women cannot compete within 14 weeks – from six weeks before giving birth to eight weeks after giving birth.

“While pursuing a career in shogi, I was hesitant to have children because it was everything to me,” Ms. Fukuma said, according to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency.

The 33-year-old has been playing the popular Japanese board game professionally since 2003. However, before giving birth to her first child in December 2024, Ms. Fukuma was forced to withdraw from several matches due to pregnancy-related health issues.

In a written request submitted on Tuesday, Ms Fukuma urged the association to adjust match dates or venues to accommodate pregnant players, allow women to compete during pregnancy if their medical condition allows, and ensure women are not stripped of their titles during maternity leave, Kyodo news agency reported.

The association said the rules may be changed after “discussions with experts, taking into account the safety of mothers and the fairness of the championship.”

The exchange between Ms Fukuma and the shogi association prompted mixed reactions on social media, with some calling the current rules “misogynistic” and others comparing them to professional sports tournaments.

On Reddit, one user pointed out that tennis players sometimes receive “protected rankings,” which allows those recovering from long-term injuries or maternity leave to use their previous rankings to compete in major events, including Grand Slams.