OF ALL the cultural pursuits of Japan, there are few so esoteric as the game known as shogi.

An oriental variant of chess, it demands precise technique and imaginative tuition.

But now the players of this ancient game have been plunged into crisis by a very modern challenge.

After an upset last month, when a shogi master was almost defeated by a computer, the game’s governing body has banned its members from playing against electronic opponents. The decision has opened up a debate between shogi software designers and traditionalists who fear irreparable damage to the dignity of the game.

“If one professional loses, that could create the image that professional players are weaker than the software,” said Kazuyoshi Nishimura, director of the Japan Shogi Federation.

Shogi’s rules and terminology are similar to those for chess, but with important differences. It is played on 81 squares, rather than 64, with flat wooden counters bearing Chinese characters.

These include “jewels”, “lancers” and “silver generals”, as well as rooks, kings, bishops, knights and pawns. Each player has 20 pieces, most of which can be promoted.

This makes the number of permutations even greater than chess, one reason why shogi masters have so far avoided the fate of Garry Kasparov, who was defeated by the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in 1997. But now the forces of digital shogi are shaking the foundations of the game.

Last month a professional shogi player named Susai Hashimoto found himself struggling in the face of an assault by a programme named Tacos.

Although he recovered, the close game appalled the shogi world and led to the ban on public confrontations between human beings and microchips.

“I felt upset when I was cornered,” Mr Hashimoto said. “I enjoy playing more against a human opponent.”

The ban has been criticised by the growing number of computer shogi enthusiasts. “Nobody wants to be the first to lose against a computer,” said Takenobu Takizawa, president of the Computer Shogi Association and a professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University.

“I can see the revulsion, and fear that being beaten by a computer will damage the reputation of the professionals. But either way, the day will surely come when a computer will beat the top professional shogi player.”

Yoshimasa Tsuruoka, the developer of the Gekisashi shogi programme, said: “There was a belief that professional shogi players possessed a mystery, and an assumption that computers could never win.”

Some also fear that the game is in decline. According to government figures, there are 8.4 million shogi players, half the number of 20 years ago.

Explore World News

• World Agenda

• Iraq News

• US & Americas News

• Europe News

• Middle East News

• Asia News

• Africa News

• Ireland News

Times Recommends

• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Indian Army spends10m rupees on golf buggies
• Brüno toned down for 15 rating