Takojima, the first female shogi player in half a century, says, "You did a great job."

There is no difference between male and female shogi players, but women, who are less likely to play shogi, have been slow to advance. It has been more than half a century since the birth of female shogi players under a different system from shogi players, and Tomoka Nishiyama, 31, has fulfilled her long-cherished wish to become the first female shogi player.

Four-time female shogi champion Tomoka Nishiyama will become a professional shogi player “Aiming for even better” – the first woman to become a shogi player starting next spring

Akiko Takoshima, 80, 6th Dan, the first female shogi player, is pleased, saying, ``She did a great job under pressure.'' In 1961, he joined the shogi player training organization ``Shokenkai'' at the age of 15. The difference in ability between men and women was so great that ``there were some who lost to me and had their boys shaved.''

In 1974, the Japan Shogi Federation appointed six women, including Takojima, the first female master, as the first female shogi players, in order to popularize the sport among women. The current president, Shimizu Ichiyo, 7th Dan (57), and others followed.

The difference in shogi ability is huge, and in 1993, Hiroe Nakai, a 6-dan female player (57 years old), made big news when she became the first female player to beat a male player in an official match. The walls of the encouragement group were thick, and the women's challenges were rebuffed. Kana Fukuma (34), a four-time champion female player with the best track record among women, was unable to secure a spot as a professional shogi player even at the encouragement meeting and the two-time player transfer exam.

In the 2010s, word came from the Kansai region that ``Nishiyama is strong. If he trains, he can reach great heights.'' After transferring to the Kanto Promotion Association, Mr. Nishiyama further improved his skills through study sessions with other shogi players and realized his dream. ``There was also a desire on the part of the shogi players to do something about it,'' Takojima said.

No woman has yet made it through the encouragement tournament to become a shogi player. Currently, three female members under the age of 15 are struggling. "We've come this far in 50 years. I'm looking forward to it," Takojima said, expressing his expectations.