Kenji Kobayashi

Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji, born March 31, 1957) is a retired Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former director of the Japanese Shogi Association.

Kenji Kobayashi
Native name小林健二
Born (1957-03-31) March 31, 1957
HometownTakamatsu, Kagawa
Career
Achieved professional statusDecember 20, 1975(1975-12-20) (aged 18)
Badge Number123
Rank9-dan
RetiredMarch 31, 2022(2022-03-31) (aged 65)
TeacherSusumu Itaya (9-dan)
Tournaments won2
Career record699–775 (.474)
Notable students
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life

Kobayashi was born in Takamatsu, Kagawa on March 31, 1957.[1] He entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school in 1972 at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of professional shogi player Susumu Itaya.[2][3] At first, Kobayashi pursued his apprenticeship at the Japan Shogi Association's school in Tokyo; however, he soon began to have health problems, and moved to Nagoya to study under Itaya as a uchi-deshi (a live-in apprentice).[3] He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 1-dan in 1974 and obtained full-professional status and the rank of 4-dan in December 1975.[2][3]

Shogi professional

Kobayashi became the 40th professional to win his 600th official game when he defeated Kaishū Tanaka in Meijin Class C1 tournament play on June 9, 2009.[4]

In March 2018, Kobayashi finished the 76th Meijin Class C2 league (April 2017 – March 2018) with a record of 3 wins and 7 losses, earning a second consecutive demotion point which meant he was only one point away from automatic demotion to "Free Class" play.[5] As a result, he declared his intention to the Japan Shogi Association to become a Free Class player as of April 2018 rather than risk automatic demotion.[6][7]

Kobayashi retired from professional shogi on March 31, 2022. His career record was 699 wins and 774 loses.[8]

Theoretical contributions

Together with Masataka Sugimoto he was well-known for systematizing Fourth File Rook josekis before the advent of the Fujii System, and also as the creator of the Super Fourth File Rook opening (スーパー四間飛車).[2][9]

JSA director

Kobayashi served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors as a director from 1999 to 2004.[10]

Promotion history

The promotion history for Kobayashi is as follows:[11]

  • 1972: 6-kyū
  • 1974: 1-dan
  • 1975, December 20: 4-dan
  • 1979, April 1: 5-dan
  • 1981, April 1: 6-dan
  • 1983, April 1: 7-dan
  • 1986, April 1: 8-dan
  • 2002, March 1: 9-dan

Titles and other championships

Kobayashi never appeared in a major title match, but he won two non-major shogi championships during his career: the Young Lions in 1977 and the Hayazashi Senshuken in 1994.[12]

Awards and honors

Kobayashi received the Japan Shogi Association's "Best New Player" (1980) and "Technique Award" (1990) Annual Shogi Awards.[13] He also received the association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2000 for being an active professional for twenty-five years and the "Shogi Honor Award" in 2009 for winning 600 official games.[14]

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  2. "Kishi Meikan: Kudan Kobayashi Kenji" 棋士名鑑: 九段 小林 健二 [Player Directory: Kenji Kobayashi 9-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. pp. 551–552. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved November 8, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. 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 [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 46. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved November 8, 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. "Kobayashi Kenji Kudan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tasei" 小林健二九段, 600勝(将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Kenji Kobayashi 9d reaches 600 wins (awarded "Shogi Honor Award")] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 10, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  5. "Dai Nanajūrokki Meijinsen･Jun'isen Ckumi Nikyū" 第76期名人戦･順位戦 C級2組 [76th Meijin Tournament Class C2] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  6. "Kobayashi Kudan, Kanzaki Hachidan ga Furī Kurasu ni" 小林九段, 神崎八段がフリークラスに [Kobayashi 9d and Kanzaki 8d move to Free Class play]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  7. "Nisenjūhachinendo kara no Furī Kurasu Tenshutsusha" 2018年度からのフリークラス転出者 [Players Moving to the Free Class from the 2018 Shogi Year] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 30, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  8. "Kobayashi Kenji Kudan Fujii Sōta Ōshō no "Daishishō" ga Intai Ōshō Rīgu Yonki de Ari, Kishi Nananin Haishutsu no Hakuraku" 小林健二九段 藤井聡太王将の "大師匠"が引退 王将リーグ4期のトップ棋士であり, 棋士7人輩出の伯楽 [Kenji Kobayashi 9-dan retires. He was one of Sōta Fujii Ōshō's early teachers, spent four seasons in the Ōshō tournament's top league and helped seven of his pupils become professional shogi players.]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  9. "｢Gōwan｣ no Kobayashi" ｢剛腕｣の小林 ["Spectacular" Kobayashi]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). October 8, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2019. 小林は十数年前, 居飛車穴熊退治を掲げて｢スーパー四間飛車｣と呼ばれる精密な序盤作戦を編み出したが... (tr. Although Kobayashi is well-known for developing the so-called "Super Fourth File Rook" opening decades ago as a counter to the static-rook Anaguma castle strategy, ...)
  10. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji Yakuin Rireki" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 役員履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi JSA Officer History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  11. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
  12. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  13. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  14. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kobayashi Kenji Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 小林健二 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Kobayashi Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
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