Kenji Waki

Kenji Waki (脇 謙二, Waki Kenji, born August 10, 1960) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan. He is also currently the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Kenji Waki
Kenji Waki in Himeji, Japan (November 11, 2018)
Native name脇謙二
Born (1960-08-10) August 10, 1960
HometownOsaka
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusJuly 16, 1979(1979-07-16) (aged 18)
Badge Number138
Rank8-dan
TeacherKazukiyo Takashima (9-dan)
Tournaments won3
Meijin classfree
Ryūō class6
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life

Waki was born on August 10, 1960, in Osaka, Japan.[1] He learned shogi at a shogi class taught by shogi professional Kazukiyo Takashima, 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]

  • 1975: 5-kyū
  • 1977: 1-dan
  • 1979, July 16: 4-dan
  • 1983, April 1: 5-dan
  • 1984, April 1: 6-dan
  • 1990, October 1: 7-dan
  • 2000, November 16: 8-dan

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 once (1983), and the Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament 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]

Personal life

Waki is married to professional Go player Masako Araki.[3]

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Heisei Nijūrokunenban Shōgi Nenkan Nisenjūyonnen" 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. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. 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.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "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.
  8. "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 June 10, 2019.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "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. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  12. "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.
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