Takodori's Entrance to Shogi World

Shogi Professionals Elo rating - at the end of May 2015

This is the professional players' fan Elo raiting list at the end of May 2015 based on this source page written in Japanese. The standing order of the page may change since recorded TV games in last month may broadcast later and those results will reflect in the list only after airing the programs.

1,Meijn Habu Yoshiharu,1962
2,Kio Watanabe Akira,1897
3,7-dan Toyoshima Masayuki,1877
4,8-dan Sato Amahiko,1857
5,Osho Goda Masataka,1837
6,6-dan Sugai Tatsuya,1832
7,9-dan Sato Yasumitsu,1817
8,7-dan Inaba Akira,1802
9,9-dan Kubo Toshiaki,1800
10,7-dan Matsuo Ayumu,1788
11,Ryuo Itodani Tetsuro,1782
12,8-dan Namekata Hisashi,1781
13,9-dan Miura Hiroyuki,1780
14,8-dan Hirose Akihito,1774
15,8-dan Kimura Kazuki,1770
16,9-dan Fukaura Koichi,1767
17,9-dan Yashiki Nobuyuki,1760
18,9-dan Moriuchi Toshiyuki,1759
19,8-dan Yamasaki Takayuki,1754
20,6-dan Nagase Takuya,1754
21,9-dan Maruyama Tadahisa,1751
22,7-dan Murayama Yasuaki,1726
23,9-dan Fujii Takeshi,1716
24,8-dan Akutsu Chikara,1708
25,6-dan Yokoyama Hiroaki,1703
26,8-dan Hashimoto Takanori,1699
27,5-dan Chida Shota,1698
28,6-dan Nakamura Taichi,1691
29,6-dan Sawada Shingo,1685
30,6-dan Saito Shintaro,1684
31,5-dan Abe Kouru,1674
32,8-dan Kitahama Kensuke,1671
33,6-dan Tobe Makoto,1664
34,5-dan Abe Kenjiro,1662
35,5-dan Funae Kouhei,1662
36,5-dan Sasaki Yuuki,1659
37,5-dan Murata Akihiro,1650
38,6-dan Ohishi Tadashi,1649
39,5-dan Yashiro Wataru,1642
40,6-dan Oikawa Takuma,1634
41,7-dan Iijima Eiji,1631
42,6-dan Chiba Sakio,1630
43,7-dan Hatakeyama Mamoru,1622
44,7-dan Sanada Keiichi,1620
45,6-dan Nishio Akira,1620
46,9-dan Tanigawa Koji,1619
47,6-dan Sato Shinya,1619
48,4-dan Fujimori Tetsuya,1612
49,7-dan Tamura Kosuke,1611
50,6-dan Sasaki Makoto,1608
51,8-dan Abe Takashi,1607
52,6-dan Miyata Atsushi,1602
53,6-dan Takazaki Issei,1597
54,5-dan Nishikawa Kazuhiro,1589
55,7-dan Nozuki Hirotaka,1585
56,5-dan Kanai Kouta,1583
57,5-dan Segawa Shoji,1580
58,4-dan Ishii Kentaro,1579
59,5-dan Takami Taichi,1577
60,9-dan Morishita Taku,1576
61,4-dan Ishida Naohiro,1574
62,7-dan Kobayashi Hiroshi,1571
63,6-dan Sato Kazutoshi,1571
64,4-dan Sanmaido Tatsuya,1570
65,8-dan Suzuki Daisuke,1563
66,5-dan Nakamura Ryosuke,1563
67,9-dan Takahashi Michio,1562
68,6-dan Muranaka Shuji,1560
69,4-dan Aoshima Mirai,1558
70,6-dan Katagami Daisuke,1556
71,5-dan Sato Shinichi,1556
72,7-dan Sato Shuji,1555
73,7-dan Iizuka Hiroki,1552
74,7-dan Sugimoto Masataka,1551
75,5-dan Ito Shingo,1551
76,4-dan Masuda Yasuhiro,1551
77,8-dan Nakagawa Daisuke,1550
78,9-dan Senzaki Manabu,1549
79,4-dan Takeuchi Yugo,1541
80,4-dan Miyamoto Hiroshi,1540
81,7-dan Chuza Makoto,1538
82,8-dan Nakata Hiroki,1537
83,4-dan Imaizumi Kenji,1537
84,5-dan Makino Mitsunori,1536
85,6-dan Yagura Norihiro,1535
86,4-dan Watanabe Hiromu,1535
87,9-dan Nakamura Osamu,1534
88,9-dan Tsukada Yasuaki,1528
89,7-dan Naganuma Hiroshi,1526
90,5-dan Nagaoka Yuuya,1515
91,7-dan Toyokawa Takahiro,1514
92,6-dan Anyoji Takanori,1514
93,5-dan Sakaguchi Satoru,1513
94,5-dan Yoshida Masakazu,1513
95,6-dan Kubota Yoshiyuki,1512
96,9-dan Inoue Keita,1511
97,4-dan Kurosawa Reo,1511
98,7-dan Nakata Isao,1510
99,6-dan Okazaki Hiroshi,1510
100,7-dan Horiguchi Kazushiza,1507
101,7-dan Fujiwara Naoya,1502
102,6-dan Ina Yusuke,1502
103,8-dan Hiura Ichiro,1501
104,4-dan Kadokura Keita,1501
105,4-dan Kajiura Hirotaka,1499
106,9-dan Shima Akira,1495
107,5-dan Tanaka Yuuichi,1495
108,7-dan Hirafuji Shingo,1492
109,4-dan Hoshino Yoshitaka,1492
,Shoreikai Players,equivalent to 1488
110,5-dan Shimamoto Ryo,1487
111,6-dan Murata Tomohiro,1485
112,6-dan Takano Hideyuki,1482
113,5-dan Ohira Takehiro,1473
114,7-dan Arimori Kouzo,1471
115,5-dan Fujikura Yuuki,1471
116,5-dan Toyama Yusuke,1469
117,6-dan Masuda Yuji,1460
118,7-dan Hatakeyama Naruyuki,1459
119,9-dan Kobayashi Kenji,1452
120,7-dan Ishikawa Akio,1451
121,6-dan Kawakami Takeshi,1449
122,9-dan Minami Yoshikazu,1440
123,6-dan Kondo Masakazu,1439
124,9-dan Fukuzaki Bungo,1436
125,8-dan Tomioka Eisaku,1435
126,5-dan Nakao Toshiyuki,1430
127,6-dan Katsumata Kiyokazu,1429
128,4-dan Kamimura Wataru,1425
129,8-dan Kamiya Hiroshi,1423
130,9-dan Aono Teruichi,1421
131,6-dan Matsumoto Yoshiyuki,1421
132,7-dan Horiguchi Hiroharu,1419
133,7-dan Ogura Hisashi,1419
134,5-dan Yamamoto Shinya,1418
135,8-dan Izumi Masaki,1417
136,8-dan Urano Masahiko,1415
137,8-dan Tosa Koji,1410
138,7-dan Kitajima Tadao,1410
139,7-dan Kanzaki Kenji,1405
140,7-dan Kobayashi Hiroshi,1402
141,8-dan Waki Kenji,1396
142,6-an Takada Shohei,1381
143,7-dan Shoshi Kazuharu,1372
144,9-dan Tanaka Torahiko,1369
145,9-dan Mori Keiji,1362
,Amateur,equivalent to 1360
146,9-dan Kiriyama Kiyozumi,1355
147,6-dan Kinoshita Kosuke,1350
148,5-dan Kanezawa Takashi,1349
149,6-dan Ito Hirofumi,1345
150,5-dan Ueno Hirokazu,1338
151,6-dan Ito Nou,1326
152,9-dan Kato Hifumi,1302

153,8-dan Azuma Kazuo.1295
154,7-dan Murooka Katsuhiko,1288
155,7-dan Nishikawa Keiji,1268
156,9-dan Tanaka Kaishu,1265
157,8-dan Miyata Toshio,1248
158,8-dan Tamaru Noboru,1242
159,7-dan Mori Nobuo,1242
,Ladies,equivalent to 1178

Shogi - Japanology Plus(NHK World TV Program) Today

NHK World is going to air "Japanology Plus" featuring shogi four  times today. You can watch it on-line. The schedule is

ON AIR SCHEDULE (UTC)
Thu.    0:30 - 1:00
6:30 - 7:00
12:30 - 13:00
18:30 - 19:00

The content is like this at http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/japanologyplus/archive201404180400.html

Shogi

Maneuver your pieces to capture the opponent's king - that's the essence of shogi, Japan's most popular board game. Descended from the same ancient Indian game as chess, shogi dates back more than 400 years, and has been a widely enjoyed pastime for centuries. These days about 12 million people play shogi, and the internet has opened up new ways to enjoy the game. Our expert guest this time is Masahiko Urano, a professional shogi player. And in Plus One, some fun variations on the classic game!

You can watch it on-line. Please go to http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html and click "NOW ON AIR" on the right. The first broadcast is going to take place within 30 minutes. The same program will repeat.

Kids Web Japan's article on shogi

It's a good article to read. Kids Web Japan is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Japan.

• http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/14-03/index.html

Message from Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe at Denousen media conference

This full message seems readable only on facebook, so I'm copying to paste it to here.

Message from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe:

I attended the press conference to announce the pairings for the “Shogi Denou-sen”—a battle of professional shogi players vs. computers.
I suppose some of my readers here may have watched the live Internet relay, but when I did the furigoma (a toss of five pawns to decide who plays black and white), surprisingly all five pawns landed “fu” side up. Therefore, in the first match-up, the shogi professional will be black, the side that moves first. Having emotions is one of the strengths humans enjoy, and I really wish the best of luck for the shogi professionals not to lose to the computers. 
This year, Mt.¬¬¬ Fuji was registered on the World Heritage List and washoku—Japanese cuisine—was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. I would like to convey shogi to the world as one type of “Cool Japan.”

(Originally posted at 18:56, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 in Japanese)

If you are a facebook user, you can see the photo with the abovementioned message at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=582600838478782&set=a.297429136995955.68423.119541591451378&type=1&theater

In addition, I'm adding the video to this entry.

Abe did furigoma there at that time. Kyodo News uploaded the video of the scene for you to watch.

 

Pole first woman to join pro 'shogi' training course | The Japan Times

I'm rooting for her challenge.

• Pole first woman to join pro 'shogi' training course | The Japan Times

Rare Shogi Board Exhibition at Chiddingstone Castle in U.K.

I found the following exhibition and talk event at the captioned castle for this summer.

I found the following event at Chiddingstone castle in U.K.  Quote: Wednesday, 7th July until Sunday, 8th September Loan of a Japanese 'Shogi Board' Shogi Board on loan from the Horniman Museum in London. A beautiful, rare ceramic Shogi board (a variant of chess) will be on loan as one of our many events to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the establishment of trade with Japan (1613-2013). Quote: Wednesday, 31st July at 11.30 am Ceramics and Chess in Asia" Talk In relation to the loan of a Japanese shogi board from the Horniman Museum in London that is to be exhibited in the Japanese Room from 7th July to 8th September, Rose Kerr, former Keeper of the Far Eastern Department at the Victoria & Albert Museum, President of the Oriental Ceramic Society and Honorary Associate of the Needham Research Institute, Cambridge will be giving a fascinating talk in the Board Room entitled 'Ceramics and Chess in Asia'. Booking is essential on 01892 872747 or email [email protected]. Free with an admission ticket to the Castle. Source:http://www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/whatson

Updates of translation of a fan-made professional players ELO list

I updated the lists for the end of March and April. Here are the links and summary.

• Professional Players ELO list at the end of March 2013

Watanabe ended up being a top player at the end of the business year 2012.Toyoshima Masayuki shows the highest point among the 7-dan players at the fifth place.Itodani Tetsuro occupies the eighth place which is the highest among the 6-dan players.Sugai Tatsuya is the highest among the 5-dan players at the 20th place.Ohishi Tadashi tops among the 4-dan players at the 33rd place.

• Professional Players ELO List at the end of April 2013

Watanabe keeps the top posiiton.Toyoshima Masayuki shows the highest point among the 7-dan players at the fifth place.Itodani Tetsuro occupies the sixth place which is the highest among the 6-dan players.Sawada Shingo is the highest among the 5-dan players at the 17th place.Sasaki Yuuki tops among the 4-dan players at the 40th place.

The 81-square universe forum updates this week(~Dec. 16)

There are following categories where something new were posted this week at the BBS of the 81-Square Universe Forum. Please check them out if you are interested.

• 81 Dojo
• Shogi in General
• Professional Shogi World
• Strategy and Joseki
• Shogi Exercises
• Computer Shogi

81 Square Universe Updates this week

There are following categories where something new were posted this week at the BBS of 81 Square Universe Forum. Please check them out if you are interested.

• Social Lounge
• Shogi in General
• Tournaments & Events
• Professional Shogi World
• Strategy and Joseki
• Shogi Exercises
• Shogi Literature and Merchandise
• Computer Shogi
• Online Resources
• Shogi Variants

Nekomado started a trial of Kifu commenting service

According to the 81 square universe forum and Nekomado's blog, Nekomado started a trial of its Kifu commenting service.

• The 81-Square Universe • View topic - Kifu commentating service by NEKOMADO
• NEKOMADO Online SHOGI Shop / Kifu Commentating

[quote="Hidetchi"]Hi all,NEKOMADO has started a "Kifu commentating" service on the online shop.You send a kifu file of your game to them, and for example a professional player will write comments (good points and bad points of your play) to it and return to you.Since they have just started this, NEKOMADO is waiting for [u][color=#FF0000]the first 5 volunteers to try this service for free of charge[/color][/u].You can order from here: http://shop.nekomado.com/products/detail.php?product_id=63For the first 5, the commentator will be Mr. Katagami or Ms. Kitao.But they will increase the number of instructors in time.[/quote]

This kind of service in English is probably the first in the world. How to determine the first five for free of charge is yet to be answered.