[Female Shogi Player Manao Kagawa] “Shogi is an Endless Marathon” – What You Can Do Now for Conditioning

Professionals who continue to challenge themselves in various fields such as sports, business, art, and culture, share how they engage with their bodies and unleash their potential. We will ask about the "conditioning" practices they implement in their lifestyles.

This time, we interviewed female shogi player Manao Kagawa. We asked her how she manages her conditioning amidst her busy schedule, which includes activities as a female shogi player, running a YouTube channel, and managing a fan club.

*Conditioning, as defined by TENTIAL, is the act of optimizing all factors related to one's physical condition to improve life performance.

Drawn to the World of Shogi, where Meritocracy Reigns

── Ms. Kagawa, while being a female shogi player, you are also a YouTuber with about 200,000 subscribers and showcase cosplay as a hobby. Is there any intention behind expanding your activities in various directions?

I debuted as a female shogi player in my third year of junior high school, and I am now in my 17th year as a professional. Alongside my matches as a professional shogi player, I also engage in promotional activities for shogi through YouTube and social media. While the content mainly revolves around shogi, it also includes activities beyond shogi. Of course, it's because I enjoy it, but ultimately, it's driven by my desire to get more people interested in shogi.

── What do you think is the appeal of shogi, Ms. Kagawa?

The appeal of shogi lies in its simplicity of having only a win or lose outcome. For example, games like mahjong have an element of luck, allowing even beginners to potentially win against professionals. In contrast, shogi is a world of pure skill. There is no element of luck, so the responsibility for winning or losing lies entirely with oneself, making the joy of winning all the more rewarding.

── Are you competitive, Ms. Kagawa?

Absolutely (laughs). I learned shogi when I was in the third grade of elementary school. At that time, I was a tomboyish and competitive child, but I couldn't compete physically with boys in races and other physical competitions.

When I encountered shogi, it was a game where everyone could compete equally, regardless of physique or gender. The more effort you put in, the stronger you could become! I became increasingly fascinated by it.

Everyday Careful Living Influences a Shogi Career

── Is there anything you keep in mind to maintain motivation as a professional shogi player?

First of all, the world of shogi has a much longer active period compared to other sports. It's rare to retire young, and some seniors describe it as an "endless marathon." Maintaining high motivation continuously is honestly challenging for me as well, so right now, I focus on "playing each game carefully."

── What do you mean by "carefully"?

When people think of shogi, they might imagine "thinking for hours before making a move," but after being a shogi player for a long time, you can actually play reasonably well without thinking too deeply. With accumulated experience, you can win even without deep thought, and even if you play carelessly and lose, you won't be forced to retire immediately.

However, I feel a strong sense of crisis about that. While focusing on winning and losing is important, I also make sure to pay attention to each move and aim to play shogi that reflects my style. I always play with the mindset of "not regretting it even if this is my last game record."

※ Game record... A record of the moves in a game of Go or shogi.

── Are you the type who thinks about shogi 24 hours a day, Ms. Kagawa?

I was like that in my teens and twenties. I believed that was the only way to become strong. However, with that approach, while I improved my shogi skills, I felt that I was left with emotional immaturity and severe disappointment when I lost.

I realized that wasn't good, so recently, I've been focusing on balancing my mind and body, not just shogi.

Specifically, I've been increasing communication with people, creating content, and incorporating various non-shogi activities into my life, which I believe has helped me stay calmer than when I was younger.

── It's a tough competitive world, but what keeps you going as an active player, Ms. Kagawa?

As long as I have the will to fight, I want to continue fighting.

I've been playing shogi for over 20 years, but there might be things I can see and experiences I can have if I continue to engage with it even more than now. Of course, there will be failures along the way, but I believe there are things you can only gain by continuing, and that's one of the joys.

── Do you have a vision for the future?

I want to be a character or content in my own right. Since I'm in the public eye, I think there are things I can show from my position. If there are, it will surely connect to my sense of fulfillment.

While being a professional shogi player, I hope to continue taking on various challenges, providing an interesting world to everyone, and inspiring them by showing that "there are people like this."

Started Reevaluating Life after Turning 30

The presence of fans supports my mental state. In 2023, I established a membership, and now in August 2024, I established a fan club. YouTube is an open media, so while there are many enjoyable aspects, there are also times when heartless comments can be discouraging. In such times, receiving warm support from fan club members and event attendees gives me a lot of confidence. Especially after creating the fan club, I feel more mentally stable than before.

Started Taking Care of My Body After Learning About TENTIAL

── I heard you are also a fan of TENTIAL's bedding.

Yes, recently, I've been hearing the term "recovery wear" more often, and by learning about TENTIAL, I was surprised to discover that there are so many recovery-oriented products beyond just wear.

At the same time, I realized how much I had neglected my own care until now.

── Can you tell us about your favorite items?

First, compression socks. It's not uncommon to sit in seiza for hours while playing shogi. While I'm focused and fine during the game, I've started to feel discomfort in my legs when I go to bed. When my legs feel heavy, it's hard to sleep, and I wake up at odd times. So I tried wearing TENTIAL's compression socks. I was amazed at how much of a difference just the socks made when I woke up.

── Are there any other items?

I often wear MIGARU as loungewear. It's comfortable on the skin and truly stress-free. I can wear it all day long.

I also purchased the "BAKUNE Bed Pad Cool" in the summer. The moderately cool feeling is pleasant. The texture is also to my liking. I'm looking forward to using it again when the hot season comes.

I am currently using the "BAKUNE MAKURA" pillow. It contains four sheets of various materials in one pillow, allowing you to customize the height. I use it as a pillow, but I also hug it like a body pillow when I sleep. The snug fit is just right.

By the way, I have about five pillows, including the "BAKUNE MAKURA," and I switch them depending on my mood and physical condition.

── It seems like your sleep environment is being steadily improved.

Yes. Until now, even at night, I would think about shogi and other work, and I rarely felt like "I want to sleep." It was more like "I should probably go to bed soon" (laughs). However, as my bedding improved, I started to think, "Let's go to bed early." Being conscious of each aspect brings a sense of rhythm to life, which is nice.

── I think it's great to lead a life with a focus on sleep from a young age, like you, Ms. Kagawa.

Women's professional shogi player, Mana Kagawa

Female Shogi Player Manao Kagawa