free class; free-class division
In shogi, a division for professional players who are not participating in ranking tournaments; they can still play in other official games.
He continues to play in the free class without participating in the ranking tournament.
Free-class shogi players can compete in official matches other than the ranking tournament.
Variant with interpunct, sometimes seen in formal or explanatory contexts.
From English 'free class', adopted as a shogi term for a division outside the ranking tournament system.