Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Professional shogi player" in English language version.
プロと認められる四段まで、最終関門の「三段リーグ」を残すのみだ。約40人の三段が全員参加する三段リーグは半年間で18局指し、原則、上位1位と2位がプロ棋士になる「狭き門」だ。
棋士になるには奨励会を勝ち抜いて、原則として26歳までに四段に上がらなければならない。(...) 制限された年齢を超えた場合、退会となる。
｢元女流棋士の林葉直子がプロ棋士に初めて勝った。ただ非公式戦だったので、参考記録になった｣ (tr. Former Women's professional Naoko Hayashiba was the first to be a Shogi professional. The result, however, is only really used for reference because the game was played in an unofficial tournament)
Professional shogi players have been told not to compete against computer programs in public without permission from their association in the face of emerging competitive software, association officials said Saturday. The Japan Shogi Association says it will respond discreetly if such a match offer is made.
