Kenji Waki Kenji Waki in
Himeji , Japan (November 11, 2018)
Native name 脇謙二 Born (1960-08-10 ) August 10, 1960 (age 64) Hometown Osaka Achieved professional status July 16, 1979(1979-07-16) (aged 18) Badge Number 138 Rank 9-dan Teacher Kazukiyo Takashima [ja ] (9-dan)Tournaments won 3 Meijin classfree Ryūō class6 JSA profile page
Kenji Waki (脇 謙二 , Waki Kenji , born August 10, 1960) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan . He is also currently the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association .
Early life and apprenticeship
Waki was born on August 10, 1960, in Osaka , Japan.[ 1] He learned shogi at a shogi class taught by shogi professional Kazukiyo Takashima [ja ] , and in 1975 he was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association 's apprentice school under the guidance of Takashima at the rank of 5-kyū . He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1977, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 1978.[ 2] [ 3]
Shogi professional
Waki became the 48th professional to win 600 official games when he defeated Masahiko Urano on February 3, 2015.[ 4]
In March 2019, Waki voluntarily declared himself as a free class player, thus leaving the Meijin tournament league.[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Theoretical contributions
Waki is known for his innovations in the Yagura opening , and the Waki System is named after him.[ 3]
Promotion history
The promotion history for Waki is as follows:[ 8]
5-kyū : 1975
1-dan: 1977
4-dan: July 16, 1979
5-dan: April 1, 1983
6-dan: April 1, 1984
7-dan: October 1, 1990
8-dan: November 16, 2000
9-dan: April 1, 2021
Titles and other championships
Waki has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won three non-title championships during his career. He won the Young Lions Tournament [ja ] once (1983), and the Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament [ja ] twice (1984 and 1985).[ 9]
Awards and honors
Waki received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years in 2004, and the "Shogi Honor Award" in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional in 2015.[ 10] He also received the Japan Shogi Association's “Masuda Special Prize ” Annual Shogi Award for the 2019–2020 shogi year.[ 11]
JSA director
Waki was selected to be the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors for a two-year term at the association's 70th General Meeting on June 7, 2019,[ 12] and re-elected to additional two-year terms in June 2021[ 13] and June 2023.[ 14]
Personal life
Waki is married to professional Go player Masako Araki.[ 3]
References
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association . Retrieved June 8, 2019 .
^ "Kishi Meikan: Hachidan Waki Kenji" 棋士名鑑: 八段 脇 謙二 [Player Directory: Kenji Waki 8-dan]. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition) (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 556. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7 . Retrieved June 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
^ a b c Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa" ] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 69. ASIN B019SSNKVA . Retrieved June 10, 2019 – via Google Books .
^ "Waki Kenji Hachidan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tasei" 脇謙二八段, 600勝(将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Kenji Waki 8d reaches 600 wins (awarded "Shogi Honor Award")] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2019 .
^ "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsusha" 2019年度からのフリークラス転出者 [Players moving to free class from April 2019] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019 .
^ "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsu wo ..." 2019年度からのフリークラス転出を... [Moving to free class from April 2019]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 5, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019 .
^ "Waki to Izumi ga Furīkurasu ni" 脇と泉がフリークラスに [Waki and Izumi to free class]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 3, 2021 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 10, 2019 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Eisaku Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 10, 2019 .
^ "Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime" 将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目 [Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins “Player of the year” for the second time.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 1, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2020 .
^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 7, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019 .
^ "Dai Nanajūnikai Tsūjō Sōkai Gohōkoku" 第72回通常総会ご報告 [Report on 72nd General Meeting] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 4, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2022 .
^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023 .
External links
Active professional shogi players
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