将棋の西山朋佳さん、女性初の棋士資格に挑む

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August fifth. In the world of shogi, Japanese chess, Tomoka Nishiyama is one title away from becoming the first woman ever to qualify as a full professional player. Today she met the press before her big match. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

Shogi player Tomoka Nishiyama held a press conference in Shibuya, Tokyo, on the fifth.

It means press conference.

She is aiming to become the first woman ever qualified as a full professional player.

It means qualification — being officially eligible for something.

The shogi world has two separate systems — full professionals and women's professionals.

It means system — an official framework of rules.

In shogi's long history, no woman has ever become a full professional.

It means history.

Winning the top women's title match five times in total earns the right to become a full professional.

It means winning the championship — taking first place.

She has won it four times, so she is just one title away.

It means to close in on — to get very near to something.

The challenger is Kana Fukuma, who holds five women's titles. The two are longtime rivals.

It means challenger.

Each player gets four hours of thinking time — the longest of any women's title match.

It means the thinking time each player is allowed during a game.

At the press conference, she said she wants to give her all, one game at a time.

It means full strength — all of one's effort.

Will the first female full professional be born? This historic showdown is drawing attention.

It means attention — public interest.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Five times in total. Nishiyama has won four so far.

August twenty-second.

Four hours each — the longest of any women's title match.

That's all for today. One more title, and shogi history changes forever. See you tomorrow.