Official News Release

Japan Shogi Association has decided to live stream the title match of the Mynavi Ladies Open to all countries around the world. Mynavi Ladies Open, sponsored by Mynavi, is the highest title in the ladies shogi world. The streaming channel will be "YouTube Space Tokyo", which YouTube offers to creators as a space to distribute videos. This decision was made based on JSA's strong wish to promote the traditional culture of Japan to the world, while shogi is gaining more attention from inside and outside the country because of the games recently being played between human and AI.
On the day of the game, traditional tatami will be brought in YouTube Space Tokyo, where two Ladies Professional players in beautiful kimono will be fighting for the title Jo-ou (Queen). Real-time commentary of the game is also planned, so that even beginners of shogi can enjoy watching the live. This is JSA's new challenge to promote shogi, a traditional culture of Japan with 400-year history, to the world.

Comment by JSA chairman Kouji Tanigawa

We have decided to live stream the title match of Mynavi Ladies Open to all countries around the world. The title which is the highest in the ladies shogi world will be fought for between the two young players, Jo-ou Momoko Katou (21 years old) and Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya (23 years old). Please enjoy watching the game of shogi, the exciting Japanese board game with 400-year tradition.

URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggO-gSyWuuo

Ladies 3-kyu Emina Yamaguchi (21 years old) has been promoted to Ladies 2-kyu, winning the game described below.
Her Ladies Professional player ID will be 55.

Date of promotion

Thursday, April 21st 2016

Game

The 38th Ladies Oushou Tournament, Qualify Round
（opponent:　Ladies 1-Dan Aki Wada)

Ground of promotion

Entering the Main Round of Ladies Oushou Tournament

Conditions for a Ladies 3-kyu to become 2-kyu

1. The number of winning games is as many as that of the participated tournaments in 1 year.
2. The number of winning games is 3/4 time as many as that of the participated tournaments in 2 years.
3. Conditions for becoming Ladies 1-kyu in "Ladies Professional Promotion Regulations" are met.

If none of the above conditions are met within 2 years, the rank of Ladies 3-kyu becomes invalid, in which case one can move back to C2 class of Kenshu-kai.

On Friday, April 15th, the presentation ceremony of the 43rd Shogi Awards and the promotion letters was held at "Japan Hairdressers Federation Building" in Tokyo.

Shogi Awards winners

Promoted players

＜Program＞

Opening of ceremony
Speech
JSA Chairman Kouji Tanigawa
Presentation ceremony of the 43rd Shogi Awards
Report of selection process by Ryou Mochizuki and Shouji Tsue, representing the selection committee of Tokyo Shogi Reporters
Presentation of awards by JSA chairman Kouji Tanigawa
Presentation of Tokyo Shogi Reporters' Award by Hiroyuki Fujimoto of Tokyo Shogi Reporters
Presentation of promotion letters
Presentation of promotion letters by JSA chairman Kouji Tanigawa
Speech of thanks representing the award winners and promoted players
Shogi Award winner and Meijin Yoshiharu Habu
End of ceremony

The 43rd Shogi Awards Presentation Ceremony

　
Left: Meijin Yoshiharu Habu（Most Excellent Player / Best Game Award, Special Award)
Right: Ryu-ou Akira Watanabe (Excellent Player / Best Game Award)

　
Left: 8-Dan Eisaku Tomioka (Kouzou Masuda Award)
Right: 8-Dan Amahiko Satou (Best Game Award / Most Games / Most Wins / Most Win-streak / Fighting-spirit Award)

　
Left: 6-Dan Kenjirou Abe (Best Game Award, Special Award)
Right: 6-Dan Shintarou Saitou (Highest Winning Percentage / Best Rookie)

　
Left: Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya (Excellent Ladies Player)
Right: 9-Dan Hitoshige Awaji (Tokyo Shogi Reporters' Award)

Presentation ceremony of promotion letters

　
Left: Hatasu Itou, promoted to 8-Dan
Right: Shouichi Anzai. promoted 7-Dan

　
Left: Shinya Satou, promoted to 7-Dan
Right: Takehiro Ohira, promoted to 6-Dan

After the end of the ceremony, a celebration party was held with a great success starting with the speech of toast by 9-Dan Hitoshige Awaji.

Award winners

Most Excellent Player　Meijin (Ou-i, Ouza, Kise) Yoshiharu Habu
Excellent Player　Ryu-ou (Ki-ou) Akira Watanabe
Kouzou Masuda Award　8-Dan Eisaku Tomioka
Best Game Award (The 41st Kiou Title Match, Game 4)
Ki-ou Akira Watanabe
8-Dan Amahiko Satou
Best Game Award, Special Award (The 41st Ki-ou Challenger-deciding Tournament)
Meijin Yoshiharu Habu
6-Dan Kenjirou Abe
Highest Winning Percentage　6-Dan Shintarou Saitou
Most Games　8-Dan Amahiko Satou
Most Wins　8-Dan Amahiko Satou
Most Win-streak　8-Dan Amahiko Satou
Fighting-spirit Award　8-Dan Amahiko Satou
Best Rookie　6-Dan Shintarou Saitou
Most Excellent Ladies Player　Ladies Meijin, Ladies Ou-i, Ladies Oushou, Kurashiki-Wisteria Kana Satomi
Excellent Ladies Player　Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya
Ladies Most Games　Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya
Tokyo Shogi Reporters' Award　9-Dan Hitoshige Awaji

Promoted players

＜Professional player＞
8-Dan　Hatasu Itou (April 1st 2016)
7-Dan　Shouichi Anzai (April 1st 2016)
7-Dan　Youichi Kushida (April 1st 2016)
7-Dan　Shouhei Takada (April 1st 2016)
7-Dan　Shinnya Satou (December 27th 2015)
6-Dan　Kenjirou Abe (November 5th 2015)
6-Dan　Kouru Abe (November 5th 2015)
6-Dan　Takehiro Ohira (January 8th 2016)
6-Dan　Kouta Kanai (March 9th 2016)
5-Dan　Mirai Oshima (March 3rd 2016)
4-Dan　Junpei Ide (April 1st 2016)
4-Dan　Daichi Sasaki (April 1st 2016)
＜Ladies Professional players＞
Ladies 3-Dan　Shinobu Iwane (February 22nd 2016)
Ladies 1-Dan　Beni Takemata (April 1st 2016)
＜Coaching Professionals＞
Coaching Professional 5-Dan　Satoshi Kawai (April 1st 2016)
Coaching Professional 2-Dan　Shinji Yamada (April 1st 2016)

9-Dan Inoue wins the 7th Round of Ginga Tournament, Block G by default due to the contracting of influenza by the opponent 8-Dan Izumi.

3-Dan Taizou Ishikawa has withdrawn from Shourei-kai for personal reasons.
Defaulted official games due to this withdrawal are the following.

・The 47th Rookie Tournament　(opponent: 4-Dan Kenji Imaizumi)
・The 29th Ryu-ou Tournament, Class 5　(opponent: 4-Dan Yugo Takeuchi)

The winners of the 43rd Shogi Awards have been decided as the following, at the selection committee held on April 1st 2016 at "Sendagaya Social Education Center" in Shibuya-ward, Tokyo.

Winners of the 43rd Shogi Awards

Most Excellent Player

Meijin (Ou-i, Ouza, Kisei) Yoshiharu Habu　（2 consecutive years, 21 times in total)

Excellent Player

Ryuou (Ki-ou) Akira Watanabe　(first time in 4 years, 5 times in total)

Fighting-spirit Award

8-Dan Amahiko Satou　(first time)

Best Rookie

6-Dan Shintarou Saitou　(first time)

Most Games

8-Dan Amahiko Satou　59 games　（first time)

Most Wins

8-Dan Amahiko Satou　41 wins　（first time)

Highest Winning Percentage

6-Dan Shintarou Saitou　40 wins 12losses　76.9%　（first time)

Most Win-streak

8-Dan Amahiko Satou　15 win-streak　（first time in 5 years, 2 times in total）

Most Excellent Ladies Player

Ladies Meijin, Ladies Ou-i, Ladies Oushou, Kurashiki-Wisteria Kana Satomi　(first time in 2 years, 6 times in total)

Excellent Ladies Player

Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya　(first time)

Ladies Most Games

Ladies 2-Dan Yuki Muroya　33 games

Tokyo Shogi Reporters' Award

9-Dan Hitoshige Awaji

The 22nd Kouzou Masuda Award

8-Dan Eisaku Tomioka (for Bishop-exchanged Reclining Silver, Tomioka Style)

The 10th Best Game Award

The 41st Kiou Title Match, Game 4　Ryu-ou Akira Watanabe vs 8-Dan Amahiko Satou

Best Game Award, Special Award

The 41st Kiou Challenger-deciding Tournament　Meijin Yoshiharu Haub vs 6-Dan Kenjirou Abe

Promoted players and retired players on April 1st 2016 are the following.

Promotion

Ryuma Tonari　　to 4-Dan (by the 58th Shourei-kai 3-Dan League)
Junpei Ide　　to 4-Dan (by the 58th Shourei-kai 3-Dan League)
Daichi Sasaki　　to 4-Dan (by the 58th Shourei-kai 3-Dan League)

Shouhei Takada　　to 7-Dan (by the regulation of Free Class)
Shinya Yamamoto　　to 6-Dan (by the regulation of Free Class)

Hatasu Itou　　　to 8-Dan (by the regulation for retired players)
Kouichi Kodama　　to 8-Dan (by the regulation for retired players)
Shouichi Anzai　　to 7-Dan (by the regulation for retired players)
Youichi Kushida　　to 7-Dan (by the regulation for retired players)

Beni Takemata　　to Ladies 1-Dan (by winning more than 50% and 7 games)
Saya Nakazawa　to Ladies 1-Dan (by winning more than 50% and 7 games)

Yoshiaki Kaneko　to Coaching Professional 7-Dan (by the regulation of Coaching Professionals)
Yukimichi Tanaka　to Coaching Professional 5-Dan (by the regulation of Coaching Professionals)
Satoshi Kawai　to Coaching Professional 5-Dan (by the regulation of Coaching Professionals)
Yousuke Okamoto　to Coaching Professional 4-Dan (by the regulation of Coaching Professionals)
Shinji Yamada　to Coaching Professional 2-Dan (by the regulation of Coaching Professionals)

Retirement

9-Dan Noboru Tamura (by the regulation of Free Class)

Ladies 3-kyu Karolina Styczynska will be "Ambassador of Kofu-city" at the request of Kofu-city.
Presentation ceremony of the commission letter will be held on Wednesday, March 30th at Kofu City Hall.

Commemorative photo with Mr. Yuichi Higuchi, mayor of Kofu-city

Tokyo (HEROZ, inc.) - HEROZ, inc. ("HEROZ") providing mobile applications with Artificial Intelligence (AI), is proud to announce that the English version of "Shogi Wars", an application officially approved by Japan Shogi Association, has been released.

From today's updated version, players can switch language from Japanese to English at the bottom right of the main page. A part of the sounds and graphics in the application remain Japanese, however, the English version allows everyone to enjoy Shogi, indicating buttons, tutorials, and Shogi pieces in English. Players can also apply and receive certification of diploma with no circumstance.

Shogi Wars will continue to strive for making contributions to the popularization of Shogi around the world.

"We have finally been able to release the English version, receiving much demand from users and people involved in Shogi. We strongly hope that this application will contribute to increase Shogi fans, enjoying playing against users from all around the world" comments Takahiro Hayashi, CEO of HEROZ.

"Japan Shogi Association has been putting effort into spreading Shogi worldwide for over 30 years; however, there has not been a perfect environment for foreign players to lightly enjoy the game. But now this English version of Shogi Wars will become a gathering spot for anyone to enjoy Shogi regardless of race. I can't be any happier if all fans and players in the world will find the excitement of playing Shogi through this application" says Teruichi Aono Kudan, the executive director of Japan Shogi Association and a professional Shogi player in Japan.

【About HEROZ, inc】
HEROZ is a company providing mobile apps using Artificial Intelligence (AI), which aims at offering services in the world with the concept "Surprising in mind". It is one of the biggest service providers in Japan today, and will keep on offering services and collaboration activities actively to create a paradigm shift with the key word, AI x mobile.

【Contact Information】
HEROZ, inc. public relations
Web: http://heroz.co.jp/
Email: press@heroz.co.jp
Please contact us to the above, if you have any inquiries about this release.

5-Dan Kouta Kanai (29 years old) has been promoted to 6-Dan, winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

March 9th 2016

Game

The 66th Oushou Tournament, 1st Qualify（opponent: 7-Dan Hiroshi Kobabyashi)

Ground of promotion

Winning 120 official games since the promotion to 5-Dan