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Kenji Kobayashi (小林健二, Kobayashi Kenji, born March 31, 1957) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also a former director of the Japanese Shogi Association.
| Kenji Kobayashi | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 小林健二 |
| Born | March 31, 1957 |
| Hometown | Takamatsu, Kagawa |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | December 20, 1975 (aged 18) |
| Badge Number | 123 |
| Rank | 9-dan |
| Retired | March 31, 2022 (aged 65) |
| Teacher | Susumu Itaya (9-dan) |
| Tournaments won | 2 |
| Career record | 699–775 (.474) |
| Notable students | |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Kobayashi was born in Takamatsu, Kagawa on March 31, 1957.[1] He entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school in 1972 at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of professional shogi player Susumu Itaya.[2][3] At first, Kobayashi pursued his apprenticeship at the Japan Shogi Association's school in Tokyo; however, he soon began to have health problems, and moved to Nagoya to study under Itaya as a uchi-deshi (a live-in apprentice).[3] He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 1-dan in 1974 and obtained full-professional status and the rank of 4-dan in December 1975.[2][3]
Kobayashi became the 40th professional to win his 600th official game when he defeated Kaishū Tanaka in Meijin Class C1 tournament play on June 9, 2009.[4]
In March 2018, Kobayashi finished the 76th Meijin Class C2 league (April 2017 – March 2018) with a record of 3 wins and 7 losses, earning a second consecutive demotion point which meant he was only one point away from automatic demotion to "Free Class" play.[5] As a result, he declared his intention to the Japan Shogi Association to become a Free Class player as of April 2018 rather than risk automatic demotion.[6][7]
Kobayashi retired from professional shogi on March 31, 2022. His career record was 699 wins and 774 losses.[8]
Promotion history
The promotion history for Kobayashi is as follows:[9]
- 6-kyū: 1972
- 1-dan: 1974
- 4-dan: December 20, 1975
- 5-dan: April 1, 1979
- 6-dan: April 1, 1981
- 7-dan: April 1, 1983
- 8-dan: April 1, 1986
- 9-dan: March 1, 2002
Titles and other championships
Kobayashi never appeared in a major title match, but he won two non-major shogi championships during his career: the Young Lions in 1977 and the Hayazashi Senshuken in 1994.[10]
Awards and honors
Kobayashi received the Japan Shogi Association's "Best New Player" (1980) and "Technique Award" (1990) Annual Shogi Awards.[11] He also received the association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2000 for being an active professional for twenty-five years and the "Shogi Honor Award" in 2009 for winning 600 official games.[12]
Theoretical contributions
Together with Masataka Sugimoto he was well-known for systematizing Fourth File Rook josekis before the advent of the Fujii System, and also as the creator of the Super Fourth File Rook opening (スーパー四間飛車).[2][13]
Kobayashi served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors as a director from 1999 to 2004.[14]
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