The Japan Chess Association (日本チェス協会 Nihon Chesu Kyōkai, JCA) was the governing chess organization in Japan and was affiliated to FIDE. However, having never been registered as a non-profit organization or any other kind of juridical entity in Japan, it is considered a personal business of its representative.[1] In order to participate in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games chess competitions, it temporarily joined the Japanese Olympic Committee as an associate member but later withdrew.[2] Similarly, it joined the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) but later withdrew.[3]
Since the passing of former president Yasuji Matsumoto in January 2003, the post of president was vacant. JCA had no vice-president, board of directors, or auditors. Miyoko Watai was the self-appointed "acting president", although in principle that title could not be used officially since the previous president's terms of office had long since expired.[4]
As described further below, JCA was repeatedly criticized due to the lack of financial transparency, as well as behaviour contradicting the regulations of the parent federation, FIDE.
In January 2019, the National Chess Society of Japan replaced JCA as the governing chess organization in Japan. In 2023, NCS Japan changed its name to Japan Chess Federation. The new national organisation has a board, has published accounts, and published lists of members.