Kōji Tanigawa

1.1. Early Life

Kōji Tanigawa was born on April 6, 1962, in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His initial encounter with shogi came at the age of five when his father, seeking to quell constant sibling quarrels between Kōji and his five-year-older brother, Toshiaki, bought a shogi board and pieces. While the intention was to foster peace, Kōji later recalled that the quarrels intensified due to his competitive nature, often leading him to throw or bite the pieces when he lost. He learned the rules from an encyclopedia and began participating in local tournaments in Hyōgo Prefecture, where he developed a deeper appreciation for the game.

During his elementary school years, Tanigawa had the opportunity to play against Kunio Naitō, then an 8-dan professional, at a shogi event in Kobe's Sannomiya district. Naitō praised Tanigawa's superior mid-game and endgame intuition, an experience Tanigawa later described as a significant boost to his confidence. His family's ancestral temple, Kōshō-ji, is a Jōdo Shinshū Honganji-ha temple in Kobe, which was rebuilt after the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995.

1.2. Professional Debut and Early Career

Driven to become a professional, Tanigawa entered the Japan Shogi Association's (JSA) apprentice school (奨励会_Shōreikai^Japanese) as a 5-kyū in April 1973, during his fifth year of elementary school. He trained under the tutelage of shogi professional Masakazu Wakamatsu 8-dan. His progression was remarkably swift, achieving 1-dan rank in September 1975. On December 20, 1976, while still a second-year junior high school student, Tanigawa was officially awarded professional status and the rank of 4-dan after an eight-game winning streak. This made him the second "junior high school shogi professional" (中学生棋士_{chūgakusei kishi}^Japanese) in history, following Hifumi Katō. Notably, Tanigawa was the first professional shogi player to make his debut while in the second year of junior high school or younger, as Katō, though younger in age at his debut, was in his third year of junior high.

His older brother, Toshiaki, also a strong amateur player, attended Nada Junior and Senior High School and the University of Tokyo, and played for the shogi club at Ricoh, winning multiple amateur titles. Toshiaki even defeated a 4-dan Yoshiharu Habu in a special match.

2.1. Title Wins and Records

Tanigawa's first professional championship came in February 1979 when he won the 2nd Young Lions Tournament (若獅子戦_{Wakashishisen}^Japanese). His first major title challenge occurred in 1983, when he faced Hifumi Katō for the 41st Meijin title. Tanigawa won the match 4-2, not only securing his first major title but also becoming the youngest player ever to win the Meijin title at 21 years and 2 months old. This record stood for 40 years until Sōta Fujii surpassed it in 2023. He also holds the record for the shortest time from 4-dan promotion (professional debut) to Meijin title acquisition, at 6 years and 177 days.

The following year, he successfully defended his Meijin title against Hidemitsu Moriyasu with a 4-1 victory in the 42nd Meijin title match. At this point, he famously remarked, "Now I have gone from being a weak Meijin to an ordinary Meijin." However, he lost the 43rd Meijin title to Makoto Nakahara in 1985.

Tanigawa has appeared in major title matches a total of 57 times and has won 27 major titles, placing him fifth all-time in shogi history. His five Meijin titles (1983-84, 1988-89, 1997) qualified him for the Lifetime Meijin (永世名人_{Eisei Meijin}^Japanese) title, which he formally assumed as the 17th Lifetime Meijin on May 23, 2022.

He has achieved a career Grand Slam of all seven major titles existing at the time (Ryūō, Meijin, Ōi, Ōza, Kiō, Ōshō, Kisei), a feat only accomplished by three other players: Yoshiharu Habu, Makoto Nakahara, and Sōta Fujii.

Key title wins include:

• Ryūō: 4 times (1990-91, 1996-97)
• Meijin: 5 times (1983-84, 1988-89, 1997)
• Ōi: 6 times (1987, 1989-91, 2002-03)
• Kiō: 3 times (1985, 1987, 2003)
• Ōshō: 4 times (1991-94)
• Ōza: 1 time (1990)
• Kisei: 4 times (1991-92, 1999)

In addition to major titles, Tanigawa has won 22 other shogi championships, including a record 7 times in the All Japan Professional Shogi Tournament (全日本プロ将棋トーナメント_{Zen Nihon Puro Shōgi Tōnamento}^Japanese) and 6 times in the JT Shogi Japan Series (JT将棋日本シリーズ_{JT Shōgi Nihon Shirīzu}^Japanese).

He is also one of only three players in shogi history to achieve 1400 official career wins, reaching this milestone on January 15, 2025, by defeating Masataka Gōda in the 83rd Jun'isen B-class 2nd group. He previously reached 1200 wins on March 10, 2011, at the then-youngest age of 48 years and 11 months, and 1300 wins on October 1, 2018, becoming the fifth player to do so.

His promotion history is as follows:

• 5-kyū: 1973 (Apprentice school entry)
• 1-dan: 1975
• 4-dan: December 20, 1976 (Professional debut)
• 5-dan: April 1, 1979
• 6-dan: April 1, 1980
• 7-dan: April 1, 1981
• 8-dan: April 1, 1982
• 9-dan: April 1, 1984 (Youngest 9-dan at the time, a record later broken)
• 17th Lifetime Meijin: May 23, 2022 (Assumed title based on 5 Meijin titles)

2.2. Awards and Honors

Tanigawa has received numerous accolades for his accomplishments both on and off the shogi board. These include:

• Annual Shogi Awards** (awarded by the JSA):
  • Best New Player (6th Annual Awards, 1978-79)
  • Technique Award (7th, 9th)
  • Distinguished Service Award (10th)
  • Special Award (11th, 22nd, 30th)
  • Player of the Year (13th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 25th)
  • Most Games Won (13th, 14th)
  • Most Games Played (13th, 14th, 24th, 26th, 27th)
  • Masuda Award (31st, 2003-04) for his innovative move △7七銀成 (7-7 Silver Promotion) against Akira Shima
  • Game of the Year (34th, 2006-07) for his playoff match against Yoshiharu Habu
  • Other Awards and Honors:**
    • Kobe City Culture Special Award (September 1983, 1997)
    • Kobe City Special Award (1988, 1992, 2002)
    • Kobe City Government Meritorious Citizen Award (1989)
    • Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (1991, for 600 official wins)
    • Hyōgo Prefecture Honor Award (June 1997)
    • 25 Years Service Award (2001, for 25 years as a professional)
    • Special Shogi Honor Award (2002, for 1000 official wins)
    • Hyogo Prefecture Culture Award (2007)
    • Japanese Government's Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbons (November 2014), for his efforts in discovering new professionals and promoting interaction with fans. He was the 12th shogi player to receive this honor.
    • Kobe City Ambassador (June 2005)

2.3. Shogi Style and Philosophy

Tanigawa's playing style is famously characterized by the "light-speed endgame" (光速の寄せ_{Kōsoku no Yose}^Japanese), a term reflecting his ability to find quick, decisive sequences to checkmate the opponent's king, often through unexpected moves. This style is also known as "forward-moving style" (谷川前進流_{Tanigawa Zenshin-ryū}^Japanese) because when faced with multiple strong moves, he prioritizes those that advance his pieces. Toshiyuki Moriuchi described Tanigawa as the pioneer who introduced the concept of "speed" into the endgame, fundamentally changing the approach to the final stages of a shogi game. Tanigawa himself once commented, regarding a particularly brilliant move (△7七桂) in a Ryūō match against Habu, that "the 7-7 square seemed to glow," indicating an intuitive grasp beyond mere logic.

While he initially played ranging rook (振り飛車_furibisha^Japanese) as a 4-dan, he later transitioned to a predominantly stationary rook (居飛車_ibisha^Japanese) player. In the late Showa and early Heisei eras, he was particularly renowned for his expertise in the Sente-side Kakugawari (Bishop Exchange) opening, which was feared by other stationary rook players. As the understanding of Aiyagura (Double Fortress) evolved, making it slightly disadvantageous for the second player around 2000, Tanigawa began to diversify his openings, frequently employing Shikenbisha (Fourth File Rook) for the second player. He also adopted popular strategies like Yokofudori (Side Pawn Capture) and Gokigen Nakabisha (Happy Middle Rook), demonstrating a versatile and evolving playing style.

His "light-speed endgame" was so impactful that opponents sometimes made mistakes by over-trusting his perceived immediate threats. In the first game of the 55th Meijin title match, for example, Habu miscalculated a checkmate sequence, assuming Tanigawa's move was a mating threat, leading to Tanigawa's victory.

Tanigawa is also known for his calligraphic style, often writing phrases like "Light-speed" (光速), "Forward" (前進), "Soaring" (飛翔), and "Play in dangerous places" (危所遊, from a haiku by Matsuo Bashō) on his shogi fan autographs, reflecting his shogi philosophy.

2.4. Major Matches and Rivalries

Tanigawa's career is marked by intense rivalries, particularly with players of the "Habu Generation" (羽生世代_{Habu Sedai}^Japanese).

After becoming the youngest Meijin in 1983, he was seen as the successor to Makoto Nakahara, who had established the "Nakahara era." In 1991, Tanigawa became a four-crown holder. However, instead of a "Tanigawa era," he entered a period of intense competition with the rising Habu Generation. His more than 150 matches against Yoshiharu Habu became known as "Golden Cards."

In the 44th Kisei match (1984), Tanigawa suffered his first straight-set defeat in a title match against Kunio Yonenaga, a triple crown holder. In 1985, he lost the Meijin title to Nakahara but won the Kiō title and the NHK Cup, earning his first Best Player Award.

From 1986 to 1987, he had three consecutive title matches against Michio Takahashi, a contemporary from the "55-nen Gumi" (players born in 1955). After losing the Kiō title to Takahashi in 1986, he regained it and the Ōi title in 1987, becoming a two-crown holder.

In 1988, he regained the Meijin title from Nakahara, becoming a three-crown holder (Meijin, Ōi, Kiō), but later lost the Ōi and Kiō titles. In 1989, he successfully defended the Meijin title and recaptured the Ōi title. In 1990, he lost the Meijin title to Nakahara again but immediately recaptured the Ōza title from Nakahara, becoming a two-crown holder (Ōi, Ōza).

His first title match against Yoshiharu Habu was the 3rd Ryūō match in 1990, where Tanigawa defeated Habu 4-1 to win the Ryūō title, becoming a three-crown holder (Ryūō, Ōi, Ōza) and earning his third Best Player Award.

In 1991, Tanigawa achieved his four-crown status (Ryūō, Kisei, Ōi, Ōshō), becoming the fourth player in history to hold four titles simultaneously, following Ōyama Yasuharu, Nakahara, and Yonenaga. This period involved a demanding schedule, with multiple title defenses and challenges.

The 1992 season saw him clash with three players from the Habu Generation in six title matches. He defended his Kisei title twice against Masataka Gōda but lost the Ōi title to Gōda, allowing Gōda to achieve a title at the lowest rank (4-dan). He also lost the Ryūō title to Habu and the Kiō title to Habu after a full-set battle.

From 1993, most of his title matches were against Habu. He lost the Kisei title to Habu in 1993, leaving him with only the Ōshō title. He developed a sense of being disadvantaged against Habu during this period.

The 44th Ōshō title match in 1995 was particularly significant. Habu had already won six titles, and the Ōshō was the last remaining title for his unprecedented seven-crown sweep. Tanigawa, who had been affected by the Great Hanshin earthquake just before the second game (his home in Kobe was damaged, forcing him to evacuate for 13 hours), managed to defend his Ōshō title against Habu with a 4-3 victory. The decisive seventh game was a 111-move match that included a rare Sennichite (repetition draw) and a subsequent replay. Tanigawa's victory prevented Habu's seven-crown monopoly, a moment he later reflected on, saying, "If it weren't for the earthquake, I might have lost it."

However, in the 45th Ōshō title match in 1996, Habu finally achieved his seven-crown monopoly by defeating Tanigawa 4-0. Tanigawa described this as a "humiliating" defeat.

Tanigawa's resurgence came in 1996 when he challenged Habu for the Ryūō title and won 4-1. In the second game of this series, Tanigawa played the famous "light-speed endgame" move △7七桂 (7-7 Knight drop), which turned the tide of the game. He later commented that the "7-7 square seemed to glow" at that moment. In 1997, he defeated Habu 4-2 in the 55th Meijin title match, recapturing the Meijin title and earning the qualification for Lifetime Meijin. He then defended the Ryūō title, holding both major titles.

From 1998 onwards, Tanigawa primarily faced players from the Habu Generation in title matches, including Habu, Yasumitsu Satō, Takeshi Fujii, Gōda, Tadahisa Maruyama, and Toshiyuki Moriuchi. He lost the Meijin title to Satō in 1998 and the Ryūō title to Fujii in a 0-4 sweep, becoming title-less. Despite losing his titles, he chose to be referred to as "9-dan" rather than "former Ryūō, former Meijin," setting a precedent for future players.

In 1999, he regained the Kisei title from Gōda, ending his title-less period. In 2000, he challenged Habu in three title matches (Kisei, Ōi, Ōshō), losing all of them, which again left him without a title. In 2001, he challenged Maruyama for the Meijin title but lost 3-4.

In 2002, he recaptured the Ōi title from Habu, ending a two-year title drought. This victory also marked his 1000th official career win. In 2003, he defended the Ōi title against Habu, becoming the first player to defeat Habu in the same title match for two consecutive years. He also won the Kiō title from Maruyama, holding two titles (Ōi, Kiō) for the first time in six years. However, he lost both titles to Habu in 2004, once again becoming title-less.

In 2003, in an A-class Jun'isen match against Akira Shima, Tanigawa played a brilliant move, △7七銀成 (7-7 Silver Promotion), sacrificing a silver to open up the opponent's king. This move earned him the Masuda Award, the first time the award was given for a specific move rather than a strategy.

He maintained his position in the top 1st group of the Ryūō tournament for 18 consecutive terms from its inception in 1988 until 2005, the longest continuous record. In 2006, he again challenged Moriuchi for the Meijin title but lost 2-4.

2.5. Ranking and Financial Records

Tanigawa has consistently ranked among the top earners in shogi. He finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings every year from 1993 to 2007, and again in 2013. He placed in the "Top 3" eight times and was the top money winner in 1997, earning 117.62 M JPY.

In the 67th A-class Jun'isen (2008), Tanigawa faced the risk of demotion for the first time in his career. In the final game, he defeated Daisuke Suzuki to secure his A-class status. In 2009, he won the JT Shogi Japan Series, setting a new record for most wins in that tournament (6 times). He donated the 5.00 M JPY prize money to promote shogi among elementary school students, resulting in the donation of 3000 shogi sets to schools in Tokyo and Osaka.

In the 69th A-class Jun'isen (2010), he extended his continuous A-class tenure to 30 terms (including Meijin tenure), surpassing Nakahara's record and becoming the third longest-serving A-class player in history. However, in the 72nd A-class Jun'isen (2013), he was demoted to B-class 1st group, ending his 32-term continuous A-class tenure. This marked the first time a Lifetime Meijin qualifier was demoted to B-class 1st group since Nakahara in 2000.

In 2019, he was demoted to B-class 2nd group, making him the first Lifetime Meijin qualifier to be in B-class 2nd group. As of March 31, 2024, Tanigawa holds the record for the most games played (2324) and most losses (930) among active players.

3.1. Presidency of the Japan Shogi Association

Tanigawa was elected as a senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association for a two-year term at the 62nd General Meeting on May 26, 2011. Following the death of JSA president Kunio Yonenaga on December 18, 2012, Tanigawa was selected as his replacement at a special JSA members meeting on December 25, 2012. This made him the first JSA president from the Kansai region.

He was re-elected as president at the 64th (June 7, 2013) and 66th (June 4, 2015) General Meetings. However, on January 18, 2017, Tanigawa announced his decision to resign from the presidency to take responsibility for the JSA's handling of the 29th Ryūō challenger controversy.

This controversy involved allegations of illegal shogi software use against professional player Hiroyuki Miura. In October 2016, the JSA, under Tanigawa's leadership, had suspended Miura from official games until December 31, 2016, and replaced him as a challenger in the Ryūō title match. This decision was based on suspicions of Miura's frequent off-seat behavior during games and high match consistency rates with shogi software. However, on December 26, 2016, a third-party committee commissioned by the JSA concluded that there was no evidence of Miura using electronic devices or having frequent off-seat behavior, and that the consistency rates were not a basis for proving misconduct.

As JSA president, Tanigawa publicly apologized at a press conference on December 27, 2016, acknowledging that the JSA had failed to properly investigate the veracity of the off-seat allegations. He stated that his resignation was a conclusion reached after careful consideration, believing it was the best way to convey sincerity to Miura and all parties involved. He continued to serve as president until his successor was chosen at a special meeting on February 6, 2017. Despite the controversy, Miura later expressed gratitude towards Tanigawa.

4.1. Family and Personal Interests

Tanigawa is a passionate fan of the Hanshin Tigers, a professional baseball team. In January 2008, he visited the Tigers' practice facility, presenting them with a shogi board and pieces and awarding an amateur 3-dan certificate to then-manager Akinobu Okada. He also has connections with former Tigers player Makoto Imaoka and former Yakult Swallows catcher Atsuya Furuta, with whom he co-authored books on strategic thinking. He even appeared on television in a happi coat to support the Hanshin Tigers. His younger disciple and drinking buddy, Keita Inoue, is an even more ardent Tigers fan, a fact Tanigawa acknowledges.

Despite his intense focus on shogi from a young age, Tanigawa famously cannot ride a bicycle. He also has an aversion to certain foods, specifically crab and shrimp, stemming from a childhood experience where he became ill after eating them. While he can now tolerate them, he avoids them during matches as a precaution.

4.2. Personality and Character

Tanigawa is known for his competitive spirit and unwavering dedication. This was evident from his childhood, where his competitive nature in shogi even worsened sibling quarrels. His composure under pressure is also a notable trait. In a 1984 match against Hifumi Katō in the Judan title challenger league, Katō entered the room first and sat in the upper seat, which was against protocol. Despite his initial anger, Tanigawa calmly went to the restroom to compose himself, then sat in the lower seat without complaint and spent ten minutes before making his first move, ultimately winning the game.

His demeanor and conduct during matches have been praised by peers. Yasuo Harada 9-dan commented that Tanigawa's behavior on the board exemplifies noblesse oblige, demonstrating impeccable manners and conduct befitting his high status.

5.1. Publications and Writings

Tanigawa has authored numerous books that delve into shogi strategy, his personal philosophy, and reflections on his illustrious career. His works include:

• Light-speed Endgame: Endgame Techniques by Opening Type (光速の寄せ 戦型別終盤の手筋_{Kōsoku no Yose Senkeibetsu Shūban no Tesuji}^Japanese, 5 volumes)
• Kōji Tanigawa's Absolute Sense of Battle (谷川浩司の戦いの絶対感覚_{Tanigawa Kōji no Tatakai no Zettai Kankaku}^Japanese, 2003)
• The Power of Non-Action: A Way of Thinking Where Minus Becomes Plus (無為の力 マイナスがプラスに変わる考え方_{Mui no Chikara Mainasu ga Purasu ni Kawaru Kangaekata}^Japanese, 2004, co-authored with Hayao Kawai)
• Revival (復活_Fukkatsu^Japanese)
• Conceptualization Power (構想力_Kōsōryoku^Japanese, 2007)

From the late 1980s, Pony Canyon released a series of shogi video games for MSX and Famicom featuring Tanigawa, titled Kōji Tanigawa's Shogi Lessons (谷川浩司の将棋指南_{Tanigawa Kōji no Shōgi Shinan}^Japanese). He also supervised other shogi software, including Shogi Fūrin Kazan for Super Famicom and Gekisashi Deluxe Meijin-sen Dojo for PC.

5.2. Shogi Problem Composition

Tanigawa is also recognized as a composer of Tsume shogi (shogi problems). He received the Kanshū Prize Special Award in 1997, an honor given by the tsume shogi magazine Tsume Shogi Paradise. He has actively participated in the Tsume Shogi Solving Championship (詰将棋解答選手権_{Tsume Shogi Kaitō Senshuken}^Japanese), even in his 40s. In 2008, he published his first collection of tsume shogi problems, Light-speed Tsume Shogi (光速の詰将棋_{Kōsoku no Tsume Shogi}^Japanese). In 2011, he released Gekka Suikō (月下推敲_{Moonlit Deliberation}^Japanese), a collection of 100 tsume shogi problems, becoming the first Lifetime Meijin in 225 years to publish such a collection. This work received the Special Award at the 24th Shogi Pen Club Awards in 2012.

5.3. Shogi Promotion Activities

Tanigawa has actively engaged in promoting shogi to a wider audience. In 2009, after winning the JT Shogi Japan Series, he donated his 5.00 M JPY prize money to the JSA for shogi popularization efforts among elementary school students, leading to the donation of 3000 shogi boards and pieces to schools in Tokyo and Osaka. He also regularly appears as a commentator for shogi broadcasts and events, such as the NHK Shogi Lecture. In 1972, at the age of 10, he participated in a shogi match broadcast on NHK Educational TV, the first color shogi broadcast. He also served as a commentator for the 7th Elementary School Shogi Meijin Tournament (1982), where Yoshiharu Habu won, and encouraged Habu, stating that becoming a professional was not a dream if he continued to study.

6.1. Professional Disciples

• Ryūma Tonari (都成竜馬_{Tonari Ryūma}^Japanese): Born January 17, 1990. He won the 25th Elementary School Shogi Meijin Tournament in 2000 and later joined the Shōreikai under Tanigawa. Tonari achieved 3-dan in July 2007 and made history by winning the 44th Shinjin-Ō (Newcomer King) Tournament in 2013 as a Shōreikai 3-dan. He was promoted to 4-dan on April 1, 2016, making his professional debut, and has since reached 7-dan, winning one general tournament.

8.1. Recognition and Influence

Tanigawa is widely respected by his peers and the public. Akira Watanabe, the first Lifetime Ryūō, stated that he studied Tanigawa's games extensively when he first became a professional. Tanigawa's composure and dignified conduct during matches have also been praised as embodying the ideal professional shogi player. His influence extends to his writings and his work in tsume shogi, which have contributed to the theoretical and artistic aspects of the game. His efforts in promoting shogi, particularly among younger generations, have also left a positive mark on the culture surrounding the game.