What exactly does it mean to be human?

Countless philosophers across history have wrestled with this enduring question—agonizing over it, struggling with it and contending with its implications in every age.

These thoughts crossed my mind last week as I attended the Meijin title match in Tokyo, one of the "shogi" world’s two most prestigious championships alongside the Ryuo title, both steeped in history and tradition.

The challenger facing Meijin Sota Fujii, the 23‑year‑old reigning monarch of Japan’s traditional strategy board game, was Tetsuro Itodani, a 37‑year‑old 9‑dan professional and former Ryuo title holder.

It was the opening game of a best‑of‑seven series, with the first who has four wins claiming the crown.

On his very first move, the challenger pushed his “hashifu,” the edge pawn,........

© The Asahi Shimbun