Kana Fukuma said Saturday she remains anxious about new pregnancy and childbirth regulations proposed by the Japan Shogi Association [1].

The dispute centers on whether professional female players can balance elite competition with motherhood without facing automatic losses or career setbacks.

Fukuma, 34 [2], said at a press conference in Osaka about the association's plan to revise its rules. The proposal includes deleting parts of the existing regulations, removing mandatory periods where players are banned from competing, and establishing a consultation desk [3].

Under previous rules, players were forced to forfeit matches if they fell within six weeks before or eight weeks after childbirth [4]. Fukuma has personally experienced these losses due to those regulations [5]. While the association's new plan suggests there will be no longer a prohibited period for participation [6], Fukuma said she is not yet convinced the changes are sufficient.

"To be honest, I feel that some of my anxiety has not been wiped away," Fukuma said [7].

Fukuma, who holds five titles [1], said she is concerned that the partial nature of the deletions leaves room for future ambiguity. She said she remains worried that other female players might undergo the same experiences she did [8].

She called for a complete abolition of restrictive rules and the implementation of guaranteed protections to ensure that professional players do not have to choose between their careers and starting a family.

"I sincerely hope that regulations can be created so that female players do not hesitate to give birth," Fukuma said [9].

“"To be honest, I feel that some of my anxiety has not been wiped away,"”

The tension between the Japan Shogi Association and Kana Fukuma highlights a systemic struggle to modernize professional sports and gaming regulations in Japan. By moving from a rigid forfeiture system to a more flexible framework, the association is acknowledging the need for gender-specific protections. However, Fukuma's insistence on total abolition suggests that partial reforms may be viewed as insufficient to remove the professional stigma or risk associated with pregnancy in high-stakes competitive environments.