Kenji Imaizumi

Kenji Imaizumi
Native name	今泉健司
Born	(1973-07-03) July 3, 1973 (age 51)
Hometown	Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Career
Achieved professional status	April 1, 2015(2015-04-01) (aged 41)
Badge Number	299
Rank	5-dan
Teacher	Hiroto Kiritani [ja] (7-dan)
Meijin class	C2
Ryūō class	6
Websites
JSA profile page
Official website

Kenji Imaizumi (今泉 健司, Imaizumi Kenji, born July 3, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 5-dan.^[1]

Imaizumi (a former 3-dan professional shogi apprentice) was the first amateur to become a professional player via the Professional Admission Test (プロ編入試験 puro henyū shiken) in 2014.^[2][3]

Shogi professional

Promotion history

The promotion history for Imaizumi is as follows:^[4]

• 4-dan: April 1, 2015
• 5-Dan: June 18, 2020

Awards and honors

Imaizumi received the Japan Shogi Association's Masuda Award for the 2007–2008 shogi season for his idea of playing "R-32" on move one as gote in the opening. He was the first apprentice professional to win the award.^[5][6][7][8]

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Imaizumi Kenji" 棋士データベース: 今泉健司 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Imaizumi] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
2. "Amachua no Imazumi Kenji-san, Puro Henyūshiken Jūken e" アマチュアの今泉健司さん,プロ編入試験受験へ (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. July 27, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
3. Wada, Chitose (December 8, 2014). 今泉健司さん, プロ棋士に合格「可能性にふたをしないかぎり, 年齢は関係ない」 [Kenji Imaizumi becomes shogi professional: "Age is not a factor as long as the possibility to do so is not taken away"]. The Huffington Post Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2020.
4. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Imaizumi Kenji Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 今泉健司 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Imaizumi Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
5. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Imaizumi Kenji Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 今泉健司 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Imaizumi Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
6. "Dai Sanjūgokai Shōgi Taishō ga Kimaru!" 第35回将棋大賞が決まる! [35th Annual Shogi Awards announced.] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
7. Murakami, Kōji (April 12, 2011). "｢Chōsoku San-nana Gin｣ Puro ni Shintō Dai Jūnanakai Masudashō ni Hoshino Sandan" ｢超速3七銀｣ プロに浸透 第17回升田賞に星野三段 [17th Masuda Award given to apprentice professional 3-dan Hoshino for his "Accelerated Silver 37" variation that has quickly become popular among professionals.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved March 20, 2020.
8. "Kaigoshi kara Puro Kishi e Ima Chūmoku wo Atsumeru Imaizumi Kenji Yondan no Ayumi" 介護士からプロ棋士へ 今注目を集める今泉健司四段の歩み [From healthcare worker to professional shogi player, the path taken by Kenji Imaizumi 4-dan has attracted the attention of others.]. Hominis Media (in Japanese). SKY Perfect JSAT. November 12, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.

External links

• ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Imaizumi, Kenji
• 今泉の日常（Official supporters group blog) (in Japanese)