Here is the link to the captioned article in The Mainichi Daily News.
Veteran shogi champion Makoto Nakahara to retire - The Mainichi Daily News
Makoto Nakahara, a veteran player in professional shogi, announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the month.
The 61-year-old Nakahara, who is the 16th Honorary Meijin (the most prestigious title in shogi) in the game, had been hospitalized and missed tournaments since he suffered a brain hemorrhage after a match in August last year.
"I have been receiving rehabilitation treatments, but it's hard to completely recover," Nakahara said during a press conference in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. "After a 43-year professional career, I thought it's time to retire."
Nakahara, from Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, turned professional in 1965 and won his first Kisei title in 1968. After becoming the youngest Meijin in history at the age of 24 in 1972, he won the title nine consecutive times and twice later. In November 2007, Nakahara became the 16th Honorary Meijin.
Nakahara, who is known for his own style of playing called "Shizen-ryu," dominated the shogi world by defeating longtime champion and 15th Honorary Meijin Yasuharu Oyama. Nakahara has the third record number of titles, 64, following Oyama's 80 and Meijin Yoshiharu Habu's 71.
Nakahara also has the second largest number of wins ever, with 1,308 wins and 782 losses, following Oyama's 1,433 victories.
Nakahara served as the chairman of the Japan Shogi Association between 2003 and 2005.
"Honorary Meijin" is Mainichi's translation of 永世名人(Eisei Meijin) which I usually translate it as "Permanent Meijin". Only professional players who holds 5 or more terms of Meijin in total will be entitled to be called Eisei Meijin. Meijin title is to be competed annually in the form of 4-win match between the current Meijin and the winner of the top professional players' league called A Juni-sen.
Terao san, tramslate please Nakahara`s style Shizen-ryu in English.
Posted by: Sergej | March 13, 2009 at 04:52 AM
> Setgej,
Shizen means natural in English.
Posted by: takodori | March 14, 2009 at 09:29 AM