Hifumi Katō

Hifumi Katō (加藤 一二三, Katō Hifumi, born January 1, 1940) is a retired Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan.[1]

Hifumi Katō
Native name加藤一二三
Born (1940-01-01) January 1, 1940
HometownKama, Fukuoka
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusAugust 1, 1954(1954-08-01) (aged 14)
Badge Number64
Rank9-dan
RetiredJune 20, 2017 (62 years)
TeacherShōji Kenmochi (9-dan)
Major titles won8
Tournaments won23
Websites
JSA profile page

He is a former Meijin, Tenth Dan, Ōi, Kiō and Ōshō major title holder.

He has the nicknames 123[lower-alpha 1] and ひふみん Hifumin given by his fans.[2]

Katō had the record for the youngest professional player who went pro at 14 years and 7 months old until Sōta Fujii became professional in 2016 at age 14 years and 2 months.[3]

Shogi professional
Katō in 1954 when he became a professional (4-dan).

Playing style

Katō is known for playing aggressive Climbing Silver strategies. He received a Masuda Special Award in 2017 for his innovations to this strategy over his career.[4]

Katō's Double Fortress
☖ pieces in hand: –
987654321 
香桂     桂香1
 飛 銀  金王 2
歩  歩 金銀歩歩3
  歩角歩歩歩  4
 歩       5
  歩歩歩 歩歩歩6
歩歩銀金 歩銀  7
 玉金角   飛 8
香桂     桂香9
☗ pieces in hand: –

Additionally, the Katō variation (加藤流 katō-ryū) of the Double Fortress opening is named after him.

Personal life

Katō was baptized as a Catholic in 1970, and his Christian name is Paul. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by Pope John Paul II in 1986.[5]

Promotion history
at Ohi Racecourse on December 27, 2018

Katō's promotion history is as follows:[6]

  • 1951: 3-kyū
  • 1953: 1-dan
  • 1954, August 1: 4-dan
  • 1955, April 1: 5-dan
  • 1956, April 1: 6-dan
  • 1957, April 1: 7-dan
  • 1958, April 1: 8-dan
  • 1973, November 3: 9-dan
  • 2017, June 20: Retired

Titles and other championships

Katō appeared in major title matches a total of twenty-four times, and won a total of eight titles.[7] In addition to major titles, Katō won twenty-three other shogi championships during his career.[8]

Major titles
TitleYearsNumber of times overall
Meijin 1982 1
*Tenth Dan[lower-alpha 2] 1968, 1980–81 3
Ōi 1984 1
Kiō 1976–77 2
Ōshō 1978 1

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Other championships
TournamentYearsNumber of times
Ōza[lower-alpha 3] 1962 1
NHK Cup 1960, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1993 7
*Hayazashi Senshuken 1977, 1981, 1990 3
JT Nihon Series 1983, 1987 2
*Tennō-sen 1985 1
*Meishō-sen 1982 1
Prince Takamatsu Award Shogi Tournament 1956, 1964, 1966 3
*Japan No.1 Cup Tournament 1958, 1960 2
*6-dan, 5-dan, 4-dan tournament 1955 1
*Hayazashi Ōi Ketteisen 1959 1
Other 1

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Awards and honors

Katō has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments in both on an off the shogi board. These include the Annual Shogi Awards given out by the JSA for performance in official games and other awards given out by governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.[9][10]

Annual shogi awards
  • 4th Annual Awards (April 1976 – March 1977): Most Games Won, Most Consecutive Games Won, Technique Award
  • 5th Annual Awards (April 1977 – March 1978): Distinguished Service Award
  • 6th Annual Awards (April 1978 – March 1979): Distinguished Service Award
  • 8th Annual Awards (April 1980 – March 1981): Distinguished Service Award
  • 9th Annual Awards (April 1981 – March 1982): Player of the Year, Most Consecutive Games Won
  • 12th Annual Awards (April 1984 – March 1985): Most Games Won, Most Games Played
  • 29th Annual Awards (April 2001 – March 2002): Tokyo Press Club Award
  • 44th Annual Awards (April 2016 – March 2017): Special Award, Kōzō Masuda Award Special Prize

Other awards
  • 1977: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
  • 1978: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
  • 1982: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)
  • 1986: Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester
  • 1989: Special Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 1,000 official games as a professional)
  • 1993: 40 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for forty years)
  • 2000: Medal with Purple Ribbon
  • 2001: 1200 Wins Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 1,200 official games as a professional)
  • 2003: 50 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for fifty years)
  • 2022: Person of Cultural Merit[11]

Notes
  1. His given name, Hifumi, is composed of the characters 一, hi, 二, fu, and 三, mi, the kun'yomi readings for 'one', 'two', and 'three' respectively.
  2. The Tenth Dan major title became the Ryūō title in 1987
  3. The Ōza tournament was upgraded to major title status in 1982.

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. "Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii known for fiery competitive spirit since kindergarten". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018. In his debut match as a pro in December, Fujii defeated Kato, who is one of the most famous players in the nation, known as "Hifumin" by his fans.
  3. "Boy, 14, breaks record for youngest pro 'shogi' player". Japan Times. Jiji Press. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  4. "Announcement of the 44th Shogi Grand Prize Winners". March 31, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  5. Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Jō] A-Ta Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [上] あ-た [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [First volume] Letter "A" to Letter "Ta"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 31. Retrieved April 19, 2019 – via Google Books.
  6. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōdan" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  7. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  10. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  11. "松本白鸚氏ら6人に文化勲章 功労者に松任谷由実氏ら". The Nikkei. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
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