Kōzō Masuda

Kōzō Masuda
Masuda in 1952
Native name	升田幸三
Born	(1918-03-21)March 21, 1918
Hometown	Mirasaka, Hiroshima
Nationality	Japanese
Died	April 5, 1991(1991-04-05) (aged 73)
Career
Achieved professional status	January 1, 1936(1936-01-01) (aged 17)
Badge Number	18
Rank	9 dan
Retired	1979 (43 years)
Teacher	Kinjirō Kimi [ja]
Major titles won	7
Tournaments won	6
Career record	544–376 (.591)
Websites
JSA profile page

Kōzō Masuda (升田 幸三, Masuda Kōzō, March 21, 1918 – April 5, 1991) was a Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan.^[1] He is a former Meijin who was known for playing very creative shogi. For instance, top player Yoshiharu Habu considered Masuda's playing style to be 30 years ahead of its time and the origin of the modern way to play shogi.^[2]　

Shogi professional

Kōzō Masuda Award

Each year since 1995 the Japan Shogi Association has awarded the Kōzō Masuda Award (升田幸三賞 Masuda Kōzō Shō) to the player or players whose innovative new ideas in shogi theory or tactics, or whose new or excellent moves have attracted significant attention among other shogi players and fans during the year.^[3]

A second award is the Masuda Special Prize (升田幸三賞特別賞), which is given out infrequently.

Promotion history

The promotion history of Masuda is as follows:^[4]

• 1947: 8-dan
• 1959: 9-dan

Major titles and other championships

Masuda won the Meijin title in 1957 and 1958, and was the loser in the title match another eight times. He also won the Osho title three times (1951 and 1955–56) and the now defunct 9-dan Title [ja] twice (1957–58). Overall, Masuda won a major title seven times and appeared in a major title match twenty-three times during his career.^[5][6]

In addition to major titles, Masuda won the NHK Shogi Cup three times (1952, 1957 and 1963) and other shogi tournaments four times.^[7]

Awards and honors

Masuda was awarded the Japanese government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbons in November 1973.^[8]

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Kōzō" 棋士データベース: 升田幸三 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōzō Masuda] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
2. 梅田, 望夫 [Umeda, Mochio]. 2013. あとがき. 羽生善治と現代: だれにも見えない未来をつくる. 中央公論新社.
3. "Dai Nijūsankai Masuda Kōzō Shō ･ Dai Jūikkai Meikyoku Shō no Tōhyō Ukeduke Kaishi" 第23回升田幸三賞 ･ 第11回名局賞の投票受付開始 [Voting for the 23rd "Kozo Masuda Award" and the 11th "Best Game Award" have started] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
4. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Kōzō Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 升田幸三 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōzō Masuda Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
5. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Kōzō Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 升田幸三 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōzō Masuda Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
6. "Meijinsen ･ Jun'isen Kako no Kekka" 名人戦 ･ 順位戦 過去の結果 [Meijin title and ranking league past results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
7. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Kōzō Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 升田幸三 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōzō Masuda Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Kōzō Sono Ta Hyōshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 升田幸三 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōzō Masuda Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 28 February 2018.