By Galo S Mirth
Professional shogi in 2024 felt like a year of consolidation at the top and adaptation across the wider scene. The title calendar stayed packed, digital spectatorship remained central, and discussion around preparation, engine use, and match stamina continued to shape how fans and players read high-level games.
The title circuit stayed the center of gravity
The clearest way to read 2024 is still through the title competitions. Across the major title pages, the season shows a familiar pattern: long match series, close game-by-game momentum changes, and intense focus on opening preparation. Even for fans who mostly follow highlights, the official title pages remain the best record of how the year actually unfolded.
A mature streaming and commentary environment
By 2024, online coverage was not a side channel. It was the main way many people consumed professional shogi. Live broadcasts, recap clips, and expert commentary made entire series easier to follow, which changed fan behavior from occasional viewing to season-long tracking.
That shift matters because it rewards context. Instead of seeing a single headline result, fans increasingly watch player form evolve over multiple matches, including opening choices, time-management tendencies, and psychological rhythm in repeat pairings.
Engine-informed preparation became normal practice
The practical relationship between human professionals and engine analysis kept evolving in 2024. Public discussion no longer frames this as unusual. It is now expected that serious preparation blends personal study, historical game databases, and software-assisted checking. What still distinguishes elite performance is decision quality under real match pressure, not just pre-game analysis depth.
Culture and community beyond the top board
At the community level, shogi culture in 2024 continued to benefit from digital access and broader media presence. Tournament coverage, educational content, and event promotion made it easier for newer audiences to enter the game and for long-time fans to stay engaged between headline matches.
In that sense, 2024 was not only about champions. It was also about infrastructure: stable information channels, consistent public communication, and the habit of following full competitive arcs rather than isolated moments.
Sources (Japanese)
- 日本将棋連盟 棋戦一覧: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/
- 日本将棋連盟 名人戦・順位戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/junni/
- 日本将棋連盟 竜王戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ryuuou/
- ABEMA 将棋公式チャンネル: https://abema.tv/video/title/288-1
- 将棋連盟公式 X: https://x.com/shogi_jsa