Shogi Ladder Rules, last modified 31 October, 1990.
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1)  All Ladder games will be conducted in an electronic mail format, with
the "regulation" Shogi-L Board (availabe from the SHOGI-L archive)
or in a format which both players agree to.  Each player is required to
make at least one move every five days.  Failure to do so will result in
a warning to the non-responsive player, and, if the warning is not replied
to, or a move still is not made within an additional three days, then the
player forfeits the game (unless proof can be made that the player was not
at fault, i.e., links being down, player's system being down, etc.)  Email
between the players mentioning temporary absences (vacations, etc.) should
be copied to the coordinator to keep him informed.  The winner must send
the game to the Ladder Coordinator for verification.  At that time, the
loser of the game will be notified of a win claim.  The game is considered
won if the loser also verifies the win, yet, if there is no response from
the loser within five days after a win notification, then the game is
considered won.

2)  To begin a Ladder game, one player must challenge another who is higher
on the list.  One cannot challenge a player more than 5 positions ahead,
this is to avoid everyone ganging up upon position #1.  To make a challenge,
a challenge notice must be sent to person you wish to challenge, with a copy
of that message sent to the Ladder Coordinator.  The other person can then
accept or refuse your challenge, with appropriate notification sent to the
Ladder Coordinator as well.  If the player fails to respond to your challenge
within five days, then it will be considered that the player has refused your
challenge.

3) If the challenge is accepted, colors may either be decided by the players or
by consulting the Ladder Coordinator.  By Shogi tradition, colors are
determined by some random procedure, rather than trying to always balance out
the number of games each person plays as each color.

4)  One cannot challenge the same player twice consecutively.

5) Multiple games are allowed.  However, any player with a game in
progress has the right to refuse, without penalty, any additional challenges.

6)  Any player can either accept, or refuse a challenge.  If you are in
positions #1 through #5, you must accept any challenge made to you.  If you
refuse a challenge, and you are in any of the positions of #1, #2, #3, #4,
or #5, then you drop to position #6.  This is to prevent someone from taking
position #1, and then refusing all challenge games, just so not to lose
his/her position.

Being on the ladder implies that you will play.  Accordingly, anyone
who refuses 5 challenges in a row will be dropped to the lowest rank,
unless they have informed the coordinator of a temporary absence.  Note
that this implies that if you challenge someone, it is up to you to inform
the ladder coordinator that they've refused your challenge.

7)  If a player challenges and wins, then that player moves to the position
of the challenged player, and the challenged player drops one position.
If a player challenges and loses, there is no change.  All movement takes
place at the conclusion of games.  There is no dependence on when the
challenge was made.

8) In the event of a tie, the players will play again with the opposite
colors.

9) All new players shall start at the bottom of the Ladder.

10)  Any disputes will be mediated by the Ladder Coordinator, with input
from the list if the coordinator so desires.  Any decisions by the coordinator
are final, however.

11) These rules may be modified by a majority of votes by the ladder players
or as the Ladder Coordinator sees fit.

Taken from the Chess Ladder rules, with thanks to Peter Bereolos.
Chris Sterritt, Ladder Coordinator, co-owner Shogi-L list.
chris@adms-rad.unisys.com