Kōji Tanigawa

Kōji Tanigawa (谷川 浩司, Tanigawa Kōji, born April 6, 1962) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is the 17th Lifetime Meijin and also a former president of the Japan Shogi Association (JSA).

Kōji Tanigawa
Tanigawa at a human shogi event in November 2017.
Native name谷川浩司
Born (1962-04-06) April 6, 1962
HometownKobe
Career
Achieved professional statusDecember 20, 1976(1976-12-20) (aged 14)
Badge Number131
Rank9-dan
Teacher Masakazu Wakamatsu (8-dan)
Lifetime titlesLifetime Meijin
Major titles won27
Tournaments won22
Meijin classB2
Ryūō class4
Notable studentsRyūma Tonari
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life

Kōji Tanigawa was born in Kobe on April 6, 1962.[1] He entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 5-kyū in 1973 under the tutelage of shogi professional Masakazu Wakamatsu, was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1975, and was officially awarded professional status and the rank of 4-dan in 1976 at the age of fourteen, thus becoming the second person to obtain professional status while still a junior high school student.[2][3]

Shogi professional

In February 1979, Tanigawa won the 2nd Young Lions Tournament (1978) for his first championship as a professional.[2][4]

Tanigawa's first major title match appearance came in 1983 when he challenged Hifumi Katō for the 41st Meijin title. Tanigawa won the match 4 games to 2 to not only win his first major title, but also to become the youngest player to ever win the Meijin title at the age of 21.[2][5] The following year, he successfully defended his title by defeating Hidemitsu Moriyasu 4 games to 1 in the 42nd Meijin title match; he was however, unable to defend his title once again title in 1985, losing the 43rd Meijin title match to Makoto Nakahara 4 games to 2.[5]

On March 10, 2011, Tanigawa became the 4th shogi professional to win 1200 official games when he defeated Daisuke Nakagawa.Tanigawa's age of 48 years and 11 months made him at that time the youngest player to achieve such a result.[6]

On October 1, 2018, Tanigawa became the fifth shogi professional to win 1300 official games.[3][7]

Promotion history

The promotion history of Tanigawa is as follows:[8]

  • 5-kyū: 1973
  • 1-dan: 1975
  • 4-dan: December 20, 1976
  • 5-dan: April 1, 1979
  • 6-dan: April 1, 1980
  • 7-dan: April 1, 1981
  • 8-dan: April 1, 1982
  • 9-dan: April 1, 1984

Titles and other championships

Tanigawa has appeared in major title matches a total of 57 times and has won 27 major titles. He has won the Meijin title 5 times, thus qualifying for the Lifetime Meijin title.[9] In addition to major titles, Tanigawa has won 22 other shogi championships during his career.[10]

Major titles
TitleYearsNumber of times
Ryūō 1990–91, 1996–97 4
Meijin 1983–84, 1988–89, 1997 5
Ōi 1987, 1989–91, 2002–03 6
Kiō 1985, 1987, 2003 3
Ōshō 1991–94 4
Ōza 1990 1
Kisei 1991–92,[lower-alpha 1] 1999 4

Other championships
TournamentYearsNumber of times
*All Nihon Pro 1983–85, 1987, 1994, 1996, 1999 7
Nihon Series 1989–90, 1992, 1996–97, 2009 6
*All Star Kachinuki-sen 1982, 1984, 1986 3
*Tennō-sen 1989, 1991 2
Ginga-sen 2002 1
NHK Cup 1985 1
*Meiki-sen 1979 1
*Young Lions 1978 1

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

Awards and honors

Tanigawa has received a number of awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board. These include the Annual Shogi Awards given out by the JSA for performance in official games as well as other JSA awards for career accomplishments, and awards received from governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.[11][12]

Annual Shogi Awards
  • 6th Annual Awards (April 1978 – March 1979): Best New Player
  • 7th Annual Awards (April 1979 – March 1980): Technique Award
  • 9th Annual Awards (April 1981 – March 1982): Technique Award
  • 10th Annual Awards (April 1982 – March 1983): Distinguished Service Award
  • 11th Annual Awards (April 1983 – March 1984): Special Award
  • 13th Annual Awards (April 1985 – March 1986): Player of the Year, Most Games Won, Most Games Played
  • 14th Annual Awards (April 1986 – March 1987): Most Games Won, Most Games Played
  • 15th Annual Awards (April 1987 – March 1988): Player of the Year
  • 18th Annual Awards (April 1990 – March 1991): Player of the Year
  • 19th Annual Awards (April 1991 – March 1992): Player of the Year
  • 22nd Annual Awards (April 1994 – March 1995): Special Award
  • 24th Annual Awards (April 1996 – March 1997): Most Games Played
  • 25th Annual Awards (April 1997 – March 1998): Player of the Year
  • 26th Annual Awards (April 1998 – March 1999): Most Games Played
  • 27th Annual Awards (April 1999 – March 2000): Most Games Played
  • 30th Annual Awards (April 2002 – March 2003): Special Award
  • 31st Annual Awards (April 2003 – March 2004): Masuda Award
  • 34th Annual Awards (April 2006 – March 2007): Game of the Year

Other awards
  • 1983, September: Kobe City Culture Special Award
  • 1988: Kobe City Special Award
  • 1989: Kobe City Government Meritorius Citizen Award
  • 1991: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
  • 1992: Kobe City Special Award
  • 1997, June: Hyōgo Prefecture Honor Award, Kobe City Culture Honor Award
  • 2001: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
  • 2002: Kobe City Special Award, Special Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 1000 official games as a professional)
  • 2007: Hyogo Prefecture Culture Award
  • 2014: Japanese Government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbons[13]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

Tanigawa has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings each year from 1993 to 2007, and then again in 2013. He also has finished in the "Top 3" eight times, and was the top money winner in 1997.

YearAmountRank
1993¥56,500,0002nd[14]
1994¥43,590,0004th[14]
1995¥54,020,0002nd[14]
1996¥50,690,0002nd[14]
1997¥117,620,0001st[14]
1998¥95,390,0002nd[14]
1999¥67,690,0002nd[14]
2000¥67,390,0002nd[14]
2001¥48,460,0004th[14]
2002¥42,310,0005th[14]
2003¥42,910,0004th[14]
2004¥46,730,0003rd[14]
2005¥28,440,0005th[15]
2006¥32,050,0005th[15]
2007¥23,500,0009th[16]
2013¥18,180,0008th[17]
  • Note: All amounts are given in Japanese yen and include prize money and fees earned from official tournaments and games held from January 1 to December 31.

JSA executive

Tanigawa was selected to be a senior managing director of Japan Shogi Association for a two-year term at the association's 62nd General Meeting on May 26, 2011.[18] On December 18, 2012, JSA president Kunio Yonenaga died, and Tanigawa was subsequently selected to be his replacement at a special JSA members meeting held on December 25, 2012. This made him the first JSA president from the Kansai region.[19][20]

Tanigawa was re-elected as president at the 64th (June 7, 2013) and 66th (June 4, 2015) General Meetings;[21][22] however, he announced on January 18, 2017, that he had decided to resign in order to accept responsibility for the JSA's handling of the 29th Ryūō challenger controversy.[23] Tanigawa continued to serve as president until his successor was chosen at a special meeting of the JSA membership on February 6, 2017.[24]

Video games

In the late 1980s, Pony Canyon released a line of Shogi video games for the MSX and Famicom featuring Tanigawa. The series was titled 谷川浩司の将棋指南 (Tanigawa Kōji no Shōgi Shinan, Kōji Tanigawa's Shogi Lessons).[25]

Notes
  1. The Kisei title was contested twice yearly up to 1994. Tanigawa won the title once in 1991 and twice in 1992.

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. "Heisei Nijūrokunenban Shōgi Nenkan Nisenjūyonnen" 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 [Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition]. Shogi Yearbook (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 547. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved November 3, 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. "Tanigawa Kōji Kudan ga Tsūsan Sensanbyakushō Shijō Goninme" 谷川浩司九段が通算1300勝 史上5人目 [Kōji Tanigawa 9d becomes the fifth person to win 1300 official games.]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). October 1, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  4. "Wakashishisen <Kindai Shōgi> (Senkyūhyakunanajūnananen - Senkyūhyakukyūjūichinen)" 若獅子戦 <近代将棋>(1977年-1991年) [Young Lions Tournament <Kindai Shogi> (1977-1991)] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  5. "Meijinsen･Jun'isen: Kako no Kekka" 名人戦･順位戦: 過去の結果 [Meijin tournament: Past results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  6. "Tanigawa ga Kōshikisen Sennihyakushō Rekidai Yonninme, Yonjūhassai Sainennshō Kiroku" 谷川が公式戦1200勝 歴代4人目, 48歳最年少記録 [Tanigawa wins 1200th official game. Becomes only the 4th player to do so, and the youngest to do so at age 48]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). March 17, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. Niidoi, Hitoaki (October 1, 2018). "Tanigawa Kudan ga Sensanbyakushō Tassei Shijō Goninme" 谷川九段が1300勝達成 史上5人目 [Tanigawa 9d becomes fifth professional to win 1300 official games]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  10. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  11. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  12. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tanigawa Kōji Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 谷川浩司 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōji Tanigawa Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  13. "Shōgi no Kishi Hakkutsu, Fan to Kōryū Shijuhōshō Nihon Shōgi Renmei Kaichō Tanigawa Kōji" 将棋の棋士発掘, ファンと交流 紫綬褒章 日本将棋連盟会長 谷川浩司さん (52) [JSA President Kōji Tanigawa Receives Japanese Government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for Efforts in Discovering New Profssionals and Promoting Interaction with Fans]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). November 2, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  14. "Nenkan Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō TOP10" 年間獲得賞金･対局料TOP10 [Annual Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Kishi-mania. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  15. "2006nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2006年獲得賞金･対局料ベスト20 [2006 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 1, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  16. "2007nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2007年獲得賞金･対局料ベスト20 [2007 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 1, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  17. "2013nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2013年獲得賞金･対局料ベスト10 [2013 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 7, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  18. "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 26, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  19. "Tanigawa Kōji Senmuriji, Shinkaichō ni" 谷川浩司専務理事, 新会長に [Senior Managing Director Kōji Tanigawa selected to be new JSA president] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. December 25, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  20. "Nihon Shogi renmei, Shinkaicho ni Tanigawa Senmuriji wo Senshutsu" 日本将棋連盟, 新会長に谷川専務理事を選出 [Japan Shogi Association selects Senior Managing Director Tanigawa as new president]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). December 25, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  21. "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 7, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  22. "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 4, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  23. Yamamura, Hideki; Mogami, Satoshi (January 18, 2017). "Head of shogi association resigns after top player cleared of cheating". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  24. "Elite player tapped as new 'shogi' body chief after defamation scandal". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. February 7, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  25. Yamazaki, Isao (2016). Famikon Konpurito Gaido [Complete Famicom Guide] (in Japanese). Shufunotomo Co. pp. 242, 294, 318. ISBN 978-4-0741-7639-7. Retrieved September 17, 2019 – via Google Books.
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