Amahiko Satō

1.1. Birth, Childhood, and Education

Amahiko Satō was born on January 16, 1988, in Fukuoka, Fukuoka City, Japan. He has an older brother and an older sister. He attended elementary and junior high school in Fukuoka before moving to Chiba Prefecture for senior high school, graduating from Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu High School.

Satō entered the Japanese Shogi Association's apprentice school (Shōreikai) in September 1998, when he was in the fifth grade of elementary school, at the rank of 6-kyū. He joined the Kansai Shōreikai. His master was shogi professional Isao Nakata, who also hails from Fukuoka and provided guidance to Satō online. Satō was promoted to 1-dan in July 2001 and entered the 3-dan league in 2002, a crucial step towards becoming a professional.

1.2. Notable Events During Apprenticeship

During his time in the apprentice league, Satō was involved in two significant events that attracted public attention.
The first occurred in 2004 when he achieved "two second-place finishes" (third place) in the 3-dan league, which would have granted him the right to become a professional in the Freelance Class. However, Satō, then 16 years old, chose to decline this opportunity. He deliberated whether it was appropriate to become a professional in such a manner. His master, Isao Nakata, advised him that at his age, it would be more beneficial to continue competing against his peers in the 3-dan league rather than entering the Freelance Class and focusing solely on the win-loss record required for promotion to the Class C2. This decision was rare, as only one other player, Yūsuke Ina, had previously obtained and exercised the right to join the Freelance Class through two second-place finishes.

The second notable event was his role as an examiner in the first game of Shōji Segawa's historic professional induction test on July 18, 2005. This test garnered significant public interest as it was the first of its kind in 61 years, allowing a player who had previously retired from the apprentice system due to age limits to attempt to become a professional again. The Japan Shogi Association selected Satō as the examiner because his decision to decline the Freelance Class promotion presented a stark contrast in "competitor philosophy and life view" compared to Segawa's journey, thus reflecting consideration for the feelings of other apprentices. This match was held as a public game. The opening was a 横歩取り8五飛_{Yokofudori Hachigofubi}^Japanese (Side Pawn Capture 8-5 Flying Rook), and Satō, playing as Sente (first player), won in 91 moves.

Satō achieved professional status (4-dan) on October 1, 2006, after securing a record of 14 wins and 4 losses in the first half of the 2006 3-dan league, finishing second to Makoto Tobe. This marked his official debut as a professional shogi player and entry into the Jun'isen ranking league.

2.1. Debut and Early Achievements

Satō's professional debut game was on December 11, 2006, against female professional Ryoko Chiba, which he won. He then embarked on an impressive nine-game winning streak, which lasted until March 5, 2007. During this streak, he defeated Shōji Segawa in a highly anticipated rematch and also overcame three former title holders: Hifumi Katō, Yasuaki Tsukada, and Osamu Nakamura. His winning streak concluded on March 16, 2007, with his first professional loss to contemporary rival Akira Hirose in the 3rd round of the 6th group of the 20th Ryūō-sen tournament. He later lost to Segawa again in the loser's bracket of the same tournament.

In September 2008, Satō achieved his first tournament victory as a professional by defeating apprentice 3-dan Yoshio Hoshino 2 games to none in the 39th Shinjin-Ō tournament finals, preventing Hoshino from becoming the first apprentice to win the tournament. He secured his second Shinjin-Ō title in October 2011, triumphing over Masayuki Toyoshima 2 games to 1 in the 42nd tournament finals.

On April 30, 2009, Satō was promoted to 5-dan after winning against Kōkō Yasuyōji in the semi-finals of the 5th group of the 22nd Ryūō-sen, marking his second consecutive promotion in the Ryūō-sen ranking tournament. This game was also his 100th professional match, with a record of 68 wins and 32 losses. He lost the 5th group final to Masayuki Toyoshima, missing out on advancing to the main tournament.

In 2010, Satō had a particularly strong year. He advanced to the main tournament of the 81st Kisei tournament after winning six consecutive games in the preliminary rounds, but was defeated by Masataka Gōda in the second round. In the 23rd Ryūō-sen 4th group, he achieved his third consecutive promotion by defeating Ichiro Hiura in the 3rd place playoff on October 28, moving up to the 3rd group. He also secured a perfect 10-0 record in the 69th Meijin Class C2, earning promotion to Class C1. From September 2010 to February 2011, he achieved a remarkable 17-game winning streak in official matches. His annual record for the year was 35 wins and 9 losses, boasting a winning percentage of .795. For these achievements, he received the "Most Consecutive Games Won" and "Best Winning Percentage" awards at the Annual Shogi Awards.

On April 21, 2011, Satō was promoted to 6-dan after defeating Eisaku Tomioka in the semi-finals of the 3rd group of the 24th Ryūō-sen, marking his fourth consecutive promotion and securing his advancement to the 2nd group. A week later, on April 28, 2011, he reached his first title challenger final in the 82nd Kisei tournament, but lost to Kōichi Fukaura, missing out on his first title challenge. During this Kisei tournament, he had defeated top players such as Toshiyuki Moriuchi and Kazuki Kimura in the preliminary rounds, and Akira Watanabe and Masataka Gōda in the main tournament. He also won the 3rd group of the 24th Ryūō-sen, advancing to the main tournament for the first time, where he lost his initial match to Takayuki Yamazaki.

In February 2012, Satō secured promotion to Class B2 in the 70th Meijin Class C1 with a record of 8 wins and 1 loss (final record 8 wins, 2 losses, finishing 1st). On January 23, 2014, he achieved a perfect 10-0 record in the 72nd Meijin Class B2, earning promotion to Class B1.

2.2. Promotion to Class A and First Title Challenges

On January 8, 2015, Satō was promoted to Class A and 8-dan after achieving a 9-2 record (final record 10-2, finishing 1st) in the 73rd Meijin Class B1. His direct victory against Nobuyuki Yashiki (who had a 7-2 record at the time) secured his promotion, as the two other players with 3 losses (Yashiki and Kazuki Kimura) still had to play each other.

In July 2015, Satō reached his first major title match by defeating Masayuki Toyoshima in the 63rd Ōza title challenger tournament final. He went on to challenge defending champion Yoshiharu Habu, who held the Meijin, Ōi, and Kisei titles at the time. Satō took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, but Habu mounted a comeback, winning the final two games to successfully defend his title.

Satō's next major title match appearance came in February 2016, when he challenged Akira Watanabe for the 41st Kiō title. He had advanced to the title match by defeating Yasumitsu Satō 2 games to none in the challenger tournament final. However, he lost the series to Watanabe 3 games to 1.

2.3. Meijin Reign and Other Major Victories

In May 2016, Amahiko Satō achieved his most significant career milestone by defeating Yoshiharu Habu 4 games to 1 in the 74th Meijin title match, thus capturing his first major title. This was particularly remarkable as he won the Meijin Class A ranking league in his very first season to qualify for the title match. Upon winning the Meijin title, Satō was simultaneously promoted to 9-dan, becoming the fifth player in 14 years to achieve 9-dan through a Meijin title acquisition, following Koji Tanigawa, Yasumitsu Satō, Tadahisa Maruyama, and Toshiyuki Moriuchi. His victory, coming back from an initial loss to win four consecutive games, was the first such "reverse sweep" in the Meijin title match in 64 years, since the 1952 series between Yasuharu Ōyama and Yoshio Kimura. He was also the first Meijin from outside the "Habu Generation" in approximately 20 years, since Koji Tanigawa in 1997. For this accomplishment, he received the "Most Valuable Player" award at the Annual Shogi Awards.

Satō successfully defended his Meijin title twice. In 2017, he defeated Akira Inaba 4 games to 2 in the 75th Meijin Match. In 2018, he again defeated Yoshiharu Habu 4 games to 2 in the 76th Meijin Match. Notably, in both of these title defenses, Satō found himself trailing 1-2 after the first three games but managed to win the subsequent three games to clinch the series 4-2.

In December 2016, Satō defeated Shōta Chida 2 games to none to win the 2nd Eiō Tournament. This victory qualified him to play against the winner of a tournament featuring top computer shogi programs. In April-May 2017, Satō faced the program Ponanza^Japanese in a two-game match, which he lost both games, concluding the final Denō-sen (computer shogi tournament) with two losses for the human representative.

In September 2018, Satō defeated Hisashi Namekata to win the 26th Ginga-sen tournament. This marked the first time a reigning Meijin had won the Ginga-sen.

2.4. Post-Meijin Career and Controversies

Satō's reign as Meijin ended in May 2019 when he was challenged by two-crown holder Masayuki Toyoshima (Ōi and Kisei titles). Satō lost the 77th Meijin Match 0 games to 4, relinquishing his title.

In 2019, he won against Kazuhiro Nishikawa in the Ryūō 2nd group ranking tournament, securing his return to the 1st group for the next term.

A significant event in Satō's career occurred on October 28, 2022, when he was disqualified from his 81st Meijin Class A ranking league game against Takuya Nagase for violating the Japan Shogi Association's rules regarding the wearing of face masks. In February 2022, the JSA had instituted provisional rules for official game play, making proper mask-wearing mandatory, except for specific instances like eating or drinking. During the match, Satō left his mask hanging from one ear for approximately 30 minutes while deeply concentrated. As no referee was present, Nagase sought assistance, leading to JSA President Yasumitsu Satō and Executive Director Daisuke Suzuki notifying Satō of his disqualification. This was the first such disqualification for a mask-wearing violation in an official shogi game. Satō expressed dissatisfaction, stating his action was unintentional and that he should have been warned before disqualification. He filed a formal grievance on November 1, 2022, apologizing for the incident but arguing the JSA's response was excessive and requesting the ruling be overturned and the game replayed. After reviewing the grievance, the JSA released a statement on January 13, 2023, affirming that the actions of the President and Executive Director were appropriate and that the disqualification would stand.

In the 48th Kiō tournament, Satō defeated Sōta Fujii Ryūō in the semi-finals and Yoshiharu Habu 9-dan in the winner's bracket final to reach the challenger determination match. However, he lost two consecutive games to Sōta Fujii, who came up from the loser's bracket, thus failing to secure the challenger title. In the 95th Kisei tournament in 2024, he advanced to the challenger determination match by defeating previous challenger Daichi Sasaki 7-dan in the semi-finals, but ultimately lost to Takayuki Yamazaki 8-dan, missing out on the challenger spot.

4.1. Personality and Relationships

Satō's given name, Amahiko, means "an echo soaring to the heavens." He is part of a generation of shogi players born around 1987 who entered the apprentice school in 1998, often referred to as the "Child Brand of Heisei" generation, which includes Tetsurō Itodani, Akira Hirose, Issei Takasaki, and Makoto Tobe, all of whom generally boast high winning percentages.

He shares a close friendship with professional shogi player Akira Watanabe. Their connection began during Satō's second year of junior high school when Watanabe (then a high school sophomore and already a professional) offered to teach Satō online via the Shogi Club 24 platform. This came about because Satō's master, Isao Nakata, had asked Watanabe to help mentor his disciple in Fukuoka, where few other players were available. In the spring of 2015, Satō, Watanabe, and Hirose had planned a trip to Europe, but Satō had to cancel due to his advancement to the Kisei challenger determination match.

Satō's nickname among fellow players is "The Noble" (貴族_Kizoku^Japanese), a moniker given by Shin'ichi Satō. Satō himself does not dislike the nickname and finds enjoyment in its public perception. His essay series in the NHK Shogi Lecture text was even titled "The Noble Amahiko Goes."

A peculiar habit of Satō during two-day matches is to consistently order curry rice for lunch on the second day. He explains that this is because it is difficult to predict what he might want to eat two days in advance, making curry a reliable and safe choice.

He is also known for his fondness for stuffed animals. His current Twitter icon features a stuffed ermine he has cherished since childhood, which he initially believed was a hamster and named accordingly (though he finds its name too embarrassing to reveal publicly). He once wore a traditional haori (jacket) with a seal pattern to a title match, explaining that when choosing fabric at a kimono store, he found the seal pattern remarkably similar to his favorite stuffed seal. His friend Akira Watanabe also shares an interest in stuffed animals, with Satō commenting on the "large" size of Watanabe's collection.

Regarding his ideal woman, Satō has mentioned Madame de Pompadour, an 18th-century French fashion leader, as an inspiring figure.

4.2. Cultural Interests

Satō developed a profound passion for classical music during his middle school years, particularly after being deeply moved by Dvořák's New World Symphony. He especially favors composers of the Classical era, such as Mozart and Beethoven. In a 2021 interview, he revealed that he is also studying music theory and attending painting classes.

Additionally, Satō is a fan of the Space Battleship Yamato anime series, specifically citing the theatrical film Final Yamato as a favorite work.

4.3. Fashion and Public Image

Satō is widely recognized for his distinct sense of fashion and meticulous attention to his public image. His interest in fashion reportedly began in high school when he felt a need to improve his self-presentation.

His favorite fashion brand is Ann Demeulemeester, which he discovered at the age of 21. Despite limited income in his youth, he continued to purchase the brand's relatively expensive clothing, to the point of nearly having his electricity disconnected due to depleted savings. As of 2015, he reportedly owned over 100 pieces from the brand, so many that he faced storage challenges. For everyday wear, he also favors Saint Laurent Paris. Due to his fastidious nature, he puts considerable effort into his suits, often utilizing bespoke or custom-tailored options.

Although he had never worn traditional Japanese attire (和服_wafuku^Japanese) before his first title challenge, by 2017, he owned about 10 sets. For the 2017 Meijin match, he personally visited a fabric wholesaler and spent approximately five hours selecting materials for his attire.

His unique style has earned him recognition beyond the shogi world. In 2016, he received the "Topic Award" at the 34th Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix. In November 2017, he was honored with the "Boom Award" at the "GQ Men of the Year 2017" event organized by GQ Japan. In January 2018, his home, filled with his curated furniture collection, was featured in Kateigaho magazine, marking the first time his private residence was publicly showcased.

5.1. Promotion History and Class Status

Satō's promotion history from his entry into the apprentice school to his current rank is as follows:

• September 1998: 6-kyū (entered apprentice school)
• July 2001: 1-dan
• 2002: 3-dan
• October 1, 2006: 4-dan (professional debut)
• April 30, 2009: 5-dan (due to consecutive promotions in Ryūō-sen ranking tournament)
• April 21, 2011: 6-dan (due to promotion to Ryūō-sen 2nd group and consecutive promotions)
• April 19, 2012: 7-dan (due to promotion to Ryūō-sen 1st group)
• January 8, 2015: 8-dan (due to promotion to Jun'isen Class A)
• May 31, 2016: 9-dan (due to winning the Meijin title)

He holds the record for 5 consecutive promotions in the Ryūō-sen (from 6th group in the 21st term to 1st group in the 26th term), a feat achieved by only four players in history.

His progression through the Jun'isen and Ryūō-sen classes is detailed below:

5.2. Titles and Championships

Satō has appeared in a total of six major title matches, winning the Meijin title three times.

His appearances in other major title matches include:

• Meijin: 4 times (74th, 75th, 76th, 77th; 2016-2019)
• Ōza: 1 time (63rd; 2015)
• Kiō: 1 time (41st; 2015)

Total title match appearances: 6 times (as of the end of the 2019 Meijin match).

In addition to major titles, Satō has won four other shogi championships:

• Shinjin-Ō Tournament: 2 times (39th in 2008, 42nd in 2011)
• Eiō Tournament: 1 time (2nd in 2016)
• Ginga-sen: 1 time (26th in 2018)

Total championships: 4.

5.3. Annual Shogi Awards and Other Honors

Satō has received numerous awards from the Japan Shogi Association (Shogi Awards) throughout his career, recognizing his outstanding performance:

• 36th Shogi Awards (2008):** Best New Player
• 38th Shogi Awards (2010):** Best Winning Percentage, Most Consecutive Games Won
• 43rd Shogi Awards (2015):** Fighting-spirit Award, Most Games Won, Most Games Played (59 games), Most Consecutive Games Won (15 games), Game of the Year (41st Kiō Tournament Game 4 vs. Akira Watanabe)
• 44th Shogi Awards (2016):** Most Valuable Player (MVP)
• 45th Shogi Awards (2017):** Game of the Year (76th Meijin Tournament Game 1 vs. Yoshiharu Habu)

In recognition of his distinctive fashion sense and public image, Satō has also received non-shogi related accolades:

• 34th Mainichi Fashion Grand Prix (2016):** Topic Award

5.4. Prize Money and Game Fee Rankings

Satō has consistently ranked among the top earners in the shogi world, appearing in the "Top 10" of the Japan Shogi Association's year-end prize money and game fee rankings multiple times:

• 2015:** 6th place, earning 21.66 M JPY
• 2016:** 3rd place, earning 57.22 M JPY
• 2017:** 2nd place, earning 72.55 M JPY
• 2018:** 2nd place, earning 59.99 M JPY
• 2019:** 6th place, earning 36.87 M JPY
• 2022:** 8th place, earning 18.19 M JPY

His annual official game results are summarized below:

(Records updated through the end of the 2023 shogi year)

6.1. Books

Satō has authored or supervised several books, primarily focusing on shogi strategy and his personal experiences.

• Ibisha Anaguma Hissho Guide (居飛車穴熊必勝ガイド^Japanese, "Static Rook Anaguma Winning Guide") (Mycom Shogi Books, April 2008, MyNavi) - A strategy guide focusing on the static rook anaguma opening.
• Satō Amahiko ni Manabu Shōri e no Process ~Jun'isen Zenshōki~ (佐藤天彦に学ぶ勝利へのプロセス ~順位戦全勝記~^Japanese, "Learning the Process to Victory from Amahiko Satō: The Story of a Perfect Jun'isen Record") (MyNavi Shogi Books, December 2014, MyNavi) - Chronicles his perfect record in the Jun'isen ranking league.
• Risō o Genjitsu ni Suru Chikara (理想を現実にする力^Japanese, "The Power to Make Ideals Reality") (Asahi Shinsho, April 2017, Asahi Shimbun Publications) - An autobiographical work.
• Amahiko-ryū Chūbansenjutsu: "Kyokumen no Suī" to "Keisei" de Yomitoku (天彦流 中盤戦術-「局面の推移」と「形勢」で読みとく^Japanese, "Amahiko Style Mid-Game Tactics: Reading Through 'Positional Transitions' and 'Game State'") (NHK Shogi Series, October 2017, NHK Publishing) - A guide to mid-game tactics.

He also supervised the following book:

• Shūban Yose no Myōshu Kihonhen (終盤 寄せの妙手 基本編^Japanese, "Endgame Masterpieces: Basic Edition") (MyNavi Shogi Books, November 2012, MyNavi) - A guide to endgame techniques.

6.2. Media Appearances

Satō has appeared on various media platforms, engaging with a wider audience beyond his professional matches.

• Television:
  • Shogi Kōza (将棋講座^Japanese, "Shogi Lecture") on NHK E-tele (Second half of 2016), where he presented "Amahiko-ryū Chūban no Yomikata" (天彦流 中盤の読みとき方^Japanese, "Amahiko Style Mid-Game Reading").
• Radio:
  • Ōte! Saigo no Onegai (王手！最後のお願い^Japanese, "Check! My Last Request") on NHK Radio 1 (February 11, 2020, episodes 3 and 4).
  • Welcome to SHOGI World Komaterasu e Yōkoso (Welcome to SHOGI World 駒テラスへようこそ^Japanese, "Welcome to the Shogi World, Komaterasu") on Music Bird and AuDee (January 2024).