shogi draw by repetition!!

This very strong shogi player has a record of 74 wins, 3 loses and one draw! The draw was a against a 1300 player and was only 18 half moves, a draw by repetition, which should not be allowed...

"http://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/game/game.jsp?gid=1409358"

Why should a draw by repetition not be allowed? Did Richard invent new Shogi rules? Duke of Prunes drew two more games in more or less the same way against me in the same tournament. It happens if neither player moves his pieces forward.

Since there are not so many pieces, and the board is very small, by now we should know who wins if both sides play "best". Is it a "solved game" like checkers? Is it always the first, or always the second player, who wins? Or always a draw? Any update?

It seems to me that repetitions by check are forbidden in Shogi but never heard any restriction to non-check repetitions. I think this was discussed here before and will search it...

I was referring to this

MRFvR: I think we had one draw by repetition too

here it is
http://www.littlegolem.net/jsp/game/game.jsp?gid=1389673
also on move 18

Shogi rules usually only forbid perpetual check.
Draw by 4 times repetition is called sennichite and allowed.
In professional shogi, i think around 5% of the games end with repetition.

These games are usually repeated with reversed colors.