Tournament play Shogi

2013 world shogi open championship (amateur) tournament in minsk

there 2 organizations shogi professional players in japan: jsa, , ladies professional shogi-players association of japan (日本女子プロ将棋協会, nihon joshi puro shōgi kyōkai), or lpsa. jsa primary organization men , women s professional shogi while lpsa group of women professionals broke away jsa in 2007 establish own independent organization. both organize tournaments members , have reached agreement cooperate each other promote shogi through events , other activities. top professional players well-paid tournament earnings. in 2016, highest tournament earners yoshiharu habu , akira watanabe earned ¥91,500,000 , ¥73,900,000. (the tenth highest earner, kouichi fukaura, won ¥18,490,000.)

the jsa recognizes 2 categories of shogi professionals: professional (棋士, kishi), , female professional (女流棋士, joryūkishi). kishi addressed seikishi (正棋士), term go used distinguish kishi other classes of players. jsa professional ranks , female professional ranks not equivalent , each has own promotion criteria , ranking system. in 2006, jsa officially granted women professional status . not equivalent, however, more traditional way of gaining professional status , i.e., being promoted shoreikai system (奨励会): leagues of strong amateur players aspiring become professional. rather, separate system designed female professionals. qualified amateurs, regardless of gender, may apply shoreikai system , graduate granted kishi status; however, no woman has yet accomplish feat (the highest women have reached kana satomi in shoreikai 3 dan league , 1 step away kishi status), kishi de facto used refer male shogi professionals.

the jsa body can organize tournaments professionals, e.g., 7 major tournaments in titleholder system , other professional tournaments. in 1996, yoshiharu habu became kishi hold 7 existing major titles @ same time. female professionals, both jsa , lpsa organize tournaments, either jointly or separately. tournaments amateurs may organized jsa , lpsa local clubs, newspapers, private corporations, educational institutions or municipal governments cities or prefectures under guidance of jsa or lpsa.

since 1990s, shogi has grown in popularity outside japan, particularly in people s republic of china, , in shanghai. january 2006 edition of kindai shogi (近代将棋) stated there 120,000 shogi players in shanghai. spread of game countries chinese characters not in common use, however, has been slower.