Kazushi Watanabe
| Kazushi Watanabe | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 渡辺和史 |
| Born | October 6, 1994 |
| Hometown | Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | October 1, 2019 (aged 24) |
| Badge Number | 319 |
| Rank | 6-dan |
| Teacher | Takahiro Toyokawa (7-dan) |
| Meijin class | B2 |
| Ryūō class | 6 |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Kazushi Watanabe (渡辺 和史, Watanabe Kazushi, born October 6, 1994) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Early life and apprenticeship[edit]
Watanabe was born on October 6, 1984, in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[1] He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was about five years old,[2] and was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under the guidance of shogi professional Takahiro Toyokawa at the rank of 6-kyū in February 2008.[2][3][4] He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 3-dan in April 2013,[2][3][4] but finished with a record of 1 win and 17 losses in his first season of 3-dan League (54th 3-dan League October 2013 – March 2014).[5] Encouraged not to give up and not to worry about being demoted to 2-dan by his mentor Toyokawa,[4] Watanabe's results improved and he finally obtained full professional status and the corresponding rank of 4-dan in October 2019 after winning the 65th 3-dan League (April 2019 – September 2019) with a record of 16 wins and 2 losses.[2][3][4][6]
Shogi professional[edit]
Promotion history[edit]
Watanabe's promotion history is as follows.[7]
- 6-kyū: February 2008
- 3-dan: October 2013
- 4-dan: October 1, 2019
- 5-dan: March 10, 2022
- 6-dan: March 7, 2023
Awards and honors[edit]
Watanabe won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Award for "Most Consecutive Games Won" with 20 straight wins in 2022.[8] He won the same award in 2023 with 18 straight wins.[9]
Personal life[edit]
Watanabe has stated that he has been interested in the study of history ever since he was a young boy. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Taisho University because he wanted to broaden his horizons instead of just focusing on shogi. He graduated from the university in 2016.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Watanabe Kazushi" 棋士データベース: 渡辺和史 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushi Watanabe] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Shinyondan Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [New 4-dan announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. August 15, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Watanabe Kazushi Sandan to Ishikawa Yūta Sandan ga Yondan Shōdan Jūgatsu Tsuitachi Hizuke de Puro Kishi ni" 渡辺和史三段と石川優太三段が四段昇段 10月1日付でプロ棋士に [Kazushi Watanabe 3-dan and Yūta Ishikawa 3-dan promoted to 4-dan; the two will officially become professional shogi players on October 1]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). September 7, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Watanabe Kazushi Sandan, Ishikawa Yūta Sandan ga Puro Iri Kimeru Jūgatsu Tsuitachi de Yondan Shōdan" 渡辺和史三段, 石川優太三段がプロ入り決める 10月1日付で四段昇段 [Kazsuhi Watanabe 3-dan and Yūta Ishikawa 3-dan qualify to be professional shogi players; the two will be officially promoted to 4-dan on October 1.]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). September 7, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Dai Goujūyonkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūsannen Jūgatsu kara Nisenjūyonenen Sangatsu" 第54回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2013年10月–2014年3月 [54th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2013 to March 2014] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Dai Rokujūgokai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūkyūnen Shigatsu kara Nisenjūkyūnen Kugatsu" 第65回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2019年4月–2019年10月 [65th apprentice school 3-dan league: April 2019 to September 2019] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Watanabe Kazushi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 渡辺和史 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushi Watanabe Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Dai Yonjūkūkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 第49回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [49th Annual Shogi Awards Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Daigojūkai Shōgi Taishō Saiyūshūkishishō ni Shijō Sainenshō Rokkan no Fujii Sōta Ōshō wo Sannen Renzoku de Senshutsu" 第50回将棋大賞 最優秀棋士賞に史上最年少6冠の藤井聡太王将を3年連続で選出 [50th Annual Shogi Awards: Sota Fujii Osho, the youngest 6-crown title holder in history, selected 'Player of the Year' for the third year in a row]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ Watanabe, Kazushi (October 18, 2019). "Rekishi Gakka Sotsugyōsei no Katsuyaku" 歴史学科卒業生の活躍 [Activities of History Department Graduates] (Interview) (in Japanese). Taisho University. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
External links[edit]
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