A special shogi match between Sota Fujii, holder of seven major titles, and Yoshiharu Habu, 9-dan, was held in Nagoya.

Sota Fujii, seven-title holder:
“I’m looking forward to facing Habu 9-dan on the stage of a public match.”
Yoshiharu Habu, 9-dan:
“Although it’s a match with short time limits, since I have the opportunity to play against Fujii, I want to do my best to create an exciting game that everyone will find interesting.”

This special match was organized because the semifinal of the “Shogi Japan Series JT Pro Official Tournament” resulted in a default win for Fujii when Watanabe 9-dan withdrew. The rules featured 10-minute time limits for “fast-paced shogi.”

Approximately 1,900 shogi fans gathered to watch the intense match. Fujii, the seven-title holder, emerged victorious.

Sota Fujii

Sota Fujii is not a place or cultural site, but a Japanese professional shogi player. He made history in 2017 by becoming the youngest professional shogi player ever at age 14, and later achieved the remarkable feat of simultaneously holding seven major shogi titles. His unprecedented success and young age have brought significant attention and popularity to the game of shogi in Japan.

Yoshiharu Habu

“Yoshiharu Habu” is not a place or cultural site, but a renowned Japanese professional shogi (Japanese chess) player. He is a living legend in the game, having achieved the prestigious title of Lifetime Meijin and is the only player to have held all seven major professional shogi titles simultaneously. His career is a significant part of modern Japanese shogi culture and history.

Shogi Japan Series JT Pro Official Tournament

The Shogi Japan Series JT Pro Official Tournament is a premier professional shogi competition in Japan, sponsored by Japan Tobacco Inc. It was established in 2012 and features a unique format where top professional players compete in a rapid time-control setting. The tournament is known for its high-stakes matches and has become a significant event for promoting the traditional Japanese board game to a wider audience.

Watanabe

“Watanabe” is not a specific place or cultural site, but a common Japanese surname and the historical name for an area in modern-day Osaka. In the Heian period (794-1185), it was a strategic port and the base for the Watanabe clan, a family of samurai warriors who served the Taira clan. Today, the name is preserved in place names within Osaka, such as Watanabe-dori (Watanabe Street).

Nagoya

Nagoya is a major Japanese city in the Chūbu region of central Honshu, historically known as a castle town and the seat of the powerful Owari Tokugawa clan. Its most famous landmark is Nagoya Castle, built in the early 17th century, which was a key strategic and economic center. Today, it is a modern industrial hub, renowned as the home of the Toyota Motor Corporation and a center for manufacturing and technology.