Official News Release

The fourth game of the 61st Oi Tournament seven-game match, where 18-year-old Fujii Souta is challenging 47-year-old Kimura Kazuki Oi, was held at Ohori Koen Nogakudo in Fukuoka, Fukuoka prefecture on August 19 and 20. Fujii beat Kimura and gained the Oi title. As a result, Fujii met the promotion criteria of “winning a title twice” to become 8-dan. Aged 18 years old and one month, Fujii became the youngest player in shogi history to become 8-dan, breaking the record of Kato Hifumi’s 18 years old and three months for the first time in 62 years. Fujii also became the youngest to become a double crown winner, breaking the record of Habu Yoshiharu’s 21 years old and 11 months for the first time in 28 years.

Youngest records to win a double crown

Ranking	Name	Date of Birth	Date of winning the second title	Age of winning the second title	Name of the second title	Title held at the time
1	Fujii Sota	July 19, 2002	August 20, 2020	18 years old and 1 month	The 61st Oi	Kisei
2	Habu Yoshiharu	September 27, 1970	September 22, 1992	21 years old and 11 months	The 40th Ouza	Kio
3	Nakahara Makoto (Retired)	September 2, 1947	January 12, 1971	23 years old and 4 months	The 17th Kisei	10-dan
4	Minami Yoshikazu	June 8, 1963	March 25, 1988	24 years old and 9 months	The 37th Osho	Kisei
5	Tanigawa Koji	April 6, 1962	April 5, 1988	25 years old and 11 months	The 13th Kio	Oi

*The records of youngest players to hold two titles at the same time.

Youngest records to become 8-dan

Ranking	Name	Date of birth	Date of becoming 8-dan	Age	Promotion criteria
1	Fujii Sota	July 19, 2002	August 20, 2020	18 years old and 1 month	Winning a title twice
2	Kato Hifumi (Retired)	January 1, 1940	April 1, 1958	18 years old and 3 months	Being promoted to A class in the Meijin tournament
3	Tanigawa Koji	April 6, 1962	April 1, 1982	19 years old and 11 months	Being promoted to A class in the Meijin tournament
4	Watanabe Akira	April 23, 1984	November 17, 2005	21 years old and 6 months	Winning a Ryuo title
5	Habu Yoshiharu	September 27, 1970	April 1, 1993	22 years old and 6 months	Being promoted to A class in the Meijin tournament

Reference Record

Name	Date of birth	Date of becoming 8-dan	Age	Promotion criteria
Kimura Yoshio	February 21, 1905	April 13, 1926	21 years old and 1 month	Promotion criteria met

*The record of the 14th lifetime Meijin Kimura Yoshio is shown as a reference record, since it was set in the Taisho era under the different criteria.
**The promotion criteria of “winning two titles” to become 8-dan was set on June 1, 2018.

Congratulatory Comments

The fourth game of the 61st Oi Tournament seven-game match, where Fujii Souta Kisei is challenging Kimura Kazuki Oi, was held at Ohori Koen Nogakudo in Fukuoka, Fukuoka prefecture on August 19 and 20. Fujii beat Kimura with 80 moves to win the match 4-0, and gained the Oi title for the first time.

Fujii will also be promoted to 8-dan, meeting the promotion criteria of “winning a title twice.”

Becoming a double crown and becoming 8-dan at the age of 18 years old and one month are both the youngest records in shogi history.

Watanabe Akira the double crown defeated Toyoshima Masayuki Meijin with 4th wins and won Meijin title by winning at 6th Game of 78th Meijin Championship 7-game held at Kansai Shogi Kikan in Osaka-shi, Osaka prefecture on August 14th and 15th (Fri, Sat). Watanabe achieved Meijin title for the first time ever in his career.

　Hoshino Yoshitaka4-Dan, aged 32, has been promoted to 5-Dan by winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

August 13, 2020 (Thu)

Game

The 79rd Junisen C-2 class
（Oppnent:Kondo Masakazu６-Dan）

Promotion criteria met:

Winning 100 official games

Wada Hana, a member of B2 class at Kanto Kenshū Kai, aged 18, submitted the application for a certificate of female professional eligibility. She will become a female professional 2-kyū at Tokyo headquarters from Sep 1st 2020. The badge number assigned will be 69. As she is a younger sister of Wada Aki , a female professional 1-dan, Wada sisters will be the 4th female professional sisters followed by Nakakura sisters, Ōba sisters and Satomi sisters.

Name

Wada Hana

Birthdate

January 14th 2002（18 years old）

Birthplace

Wako-shi, Saitama prefecture

Educational Background

Currently attending Waseda University

Master

Fujikura Yuki 5-dan

Admission to Kenshū Kai

October 2011

Tactical Approach

Central Rook (中飛車 Nakabisha)

Achievement

Winner of the 46th Women's Amateur Meijin Tournament

Hobby

Watching baseball

Trigger of playing shogi

She learned how to play shogi by watching her family's games.

　Sato Shuji 7-dan, aged 53, has been promoted to 8-dan by winning the following game.

Date of promotion:

July 31st 2020（Fri）

Game:

The 1st elimination round of the 14th Asahi Cup Open
（Opponent: Hiura Ichiro 8-dan）

Promotion criteria met:

190 wins in the official games after 7-dan promotion

The 5th game of the 5th Eiō Tournament 7 game match, where Toyoshima Masayuki Ryuo Meijin is challenging Nagase Takuya Eiō , was held at Shogi Kaikan in Tokyo, on July 23(Thu). Nagase Takuya Eiō won this game with 113 moves and his performance is currently 2 wins 1 lose 2 impasses of 7 game match.

The 6th game will take place at Kansai Shoi Kaikan, Osaka prefecture on August 1 (Sat).

The record for the youngest to win a major title has been broken for the first time in 30 years! A signature of Fujii Souta can be added to Dan Diploma according to your preferences.

Fujii Souta 7-dan (17 years old) defeated Watanabe Akira Kisei in the 4th game of The 91st Hulic Cup on July 16th 2020, and won the Kisei title with 3 wins and 1 loss. He became the youngest professional Shogi player to win a title at age 17 years and 11 months, a record for the first time in 30 years. In commemoration of this achievement, Dan Diploma with additional signature of Fujii Souta new Kisei will be released. Please take this opportunity to apply for the certification as a proof of your efforts.
For those who will apply, a printed miniature paperboard of Fujii Souta Kisei as a present.

Application Period

From 1st August 2020 to 31st October 2020 　

Dan Applicable

From 1-dan to 6-dan
（A prior inquiry is required when you apply from 7-dan or more. The Board of Directors will review your application and contact you.）

Number of Dan Diploma released

600 pieces（The number of pieces released in each dan is limited.）

Application Requirements

・Nomination of professionals, branch heads, instructors and federation dojos
・Those who have a Shogi World Diploma or a recommendation letter of diploma for various certifications.
・Those who have an official diploma and a 1-kyu certification or higher（You may apply for the next higher dan）

Application fee (incl. tax)
1-dan	44,000 yen
2-dan	55,000 yen
3-dan	66,000 yen
4-dan	88,000 yen
5-dan	121,000 yen
6-dan	286,000 yen
※11,000 yen (incl. tax) will be added to the normal fee.

※It will take more than two months to issue a diploma. We kindly ask for your understanding.
※Notes for Application : If you have an application form, please fill out the form and submit it. For those who don't have an application form, please contact us by email or fax to the following address.

Application Method

Applications will be accepted at Rakuten and Yahoo! Shopping from 1st August 2020.

Contact Information (e.g. for inquiry)

〒151-8516　The Japan Shogi Association, Public Interest Incorporated Association, Diploma department
TEL：03-3408-6168　FAX：03-3404-7301
E-mail：nintei@shogi.or.jp

At the 71st Regular General Meeting, the new demotion criteria of C-class 2nd group has been approved as follows.

※The demotion criteria is subject to change if necessary, depending on future circumstances of demotions to Free Class and moving-outs.

　The 4th game of 91st Hulic Cup Kisei Championship 5-Games Title Match was held today, Thursday, July 16, at the Kansai Shogi Kaikan in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. Fujii Souta 7-dan (17 years old) defeated Watanabe Akira Kisei and won the Kisei title with 3 wins and 1 loss. He became the youngest professional shogi player to win a title at age 17 years and 11 months, a record for the first time in 30 years.

Top 10 youngest title winners

No.	Name	Birthdate	Date of winning	Age at winning	Name of a title
1	Fujii Souta	19 Jul 2002	16 Jul 2020	17 years 11 months	The 91st Hulic's Cup Kisei Championship
2	Yashiki Nobuyuki	18 Jan 1972	1 Aug 1990	18 years 6 months	The 56th Kisei Championship
3	Habu Yoshiharu	27 Sep 1970	27 Dec 1989	19 years 3 months	The 2nd Ryuo Tournament
4	Watanabe Akira	23 Apr 1984	28 Dec 2004	20 years 8 months	The 17th Ryuo Tournament
5	Nakahara Makoto （Retired）	2 Sep 1947	19 Jul 1968	20 years 10 months	The 12th Kisei Championship
6	Tanigawa Koji	6 Apr 1962	15 Jun 1983	21 years 2 months	The 41st  Meijin-sen Tournament
7	Goda Masataka	17 Mar 1971	9 Sep 1992	21 years 5 months	The 33rd Ōi Tournament
8	Miura Hiroyuki	13 Feb 1974	30 Jul 1996	22 years 5 months	The 67h Kisei Championship
9	Tsukada Yasuaki	16 Nov 1964	21 Oct 1987	22 years 11 months	The 35th Ōza Tournament
10	Nakamura Osamu	7 Nov 1962	14 March 1986	23 years 4 months	The 35th Ōsho Tournament

※The Kisei Championships are held twice a year until the 65th games.

《Reference》Oldest first title winner

Name	Bithdate	Date of winning	Age at winning	Name of a title
Kimura Kazuki	23 Jun 1973	26 Sep 2019	46 years 3 months	The 60th Ōi Tournament

Comments from officials