Official News Release

Hasegawa Yuki Ladies 2-Dan, aged 24, got married to Taniguchi Toru, 4-Dan professional Go player, on December 22. She will continue to use her maiden name Hasegawa.

Profile of Hasegawa's spouse

Name: Taniguchi Toru
Age: 23 years old
Occupation: Professional 4-Dan Go player (Kansai Go Institution)

Message from Hasegawa and Taniguchi

"We're happy to announce that we got married on December 22. We're hoping to raise a warm family as well as to keep striving for excellence as professional Go and Shogi players. We appreciate your continued guidance and support."
Taniguchi Toru and Hasegawa Yuki

The 50th Rookie of the Year Awards Ceremony was held in Meiji Kinen Kan located in Minato-ku, Tokyo on 17th December 2019 to celebrate the 50th award winner, Takano Satoshi 5-Dan. Approxmately 120 participants including event officials gathered at this ceremony.

On the left: Makoto Son, the 50th Rookie of the Year (Go) / On the right: Satoshi Takano, the 50th Rookie of the Year (Shogi)

The congratulatory message from a sponsor: Yoji Kogiso, the editor in chief of JCP newspaper 'Shimbun Akahata'

The congratulatory message from a sponsor: Satoru Kobayashi, the president of The Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association)

The congratulatory message from a sponsor: Masaki Takiguchi, the evecutive director of general affairs, The Kansai Ki-in (Kansai Go Association)

The congratulatory message from Yasumitsu Sato,the president of the Japan Shogi Association

The complimentary address from Mutsumi Hagiwara 7-Dan

The complimentary address from Kazuki Kimura, the 60th Ōi title holder

The address of thanks from Satoshi Takano, the 50th Rookie of the Year (Shogi)
"The Rookie of the Year tournament was my great motivation to become a professional shogi player as this is one of the tournaments that members of Shoreikai can participate in. I took delight in playing shogi at this official tournament while being in the 3-Dan league. I was a second year junior high school student when I became a pupil of my master (Kimura Kazuki). Given the promotion quite smoothly for a while, I have been reluctant to become a professional shogi player by any means necessary. Of course, I know that my master was deeply in earnest, even more passionate in bringing me up to be a pro, however I couldn't have shaped my course in life for a very long time and experienced a very painful emotion when I was taught from him. It was not until I became a first year university student that I've finally decided to become a pro. The one thing that I regret is I've kept my emotional change as a secret from him. My master is so considerate. I think he already realized at that time that I was worried about something or holding something back from him. Nevertheless, he didn't ask me anything and coached me very nicely. I felt his goodness of heart and had great reverence for him. My master won the Ōi title, and I left one good result in return. Now is the time I would like to have a better relationship where we are honest with each other. My master, thank you very much for raising me to this day. I will apply myself diligently and continue to be successful like many of past Rookie of the Year did."

With Kimura Kazuki, the 60th Ōi title holder and the master of Satoshi Takano