1. Overview
Shintarō Saitō (斎藤 慎太郎Saitō ShintarōJapanese, born April 21, 1993) is a Japanese professional shogi player, currently ranked 8-dan. Hailing from Nara, he embarked on his shogi journey at a young age, learning the game from books written by the legendary Yoshiharu Habu. After entering the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under the guidance of professional shogi player Mamoru Hatakeyama, Saitō steadily progressed through the ranks, eventually achieving professional status in March 2012. Throughout his career, he has challenged for several major shogi titles, notably winning the Ōza title in 2018, marking his first significant championship. Saitō has also received recognition through annual shogi awards and has consistently ranked among the top earners in the professional shogi community.
2. Early Life and Shogi Apprenticeship
Shintarō Saitō's foundational years in shogi were shaped by early exposure to the game and a disciplined apprenticeship that paved his way into professional play.
2.1. Childhood and Beginning of Shogi
Shintarō Saitō was born on April 21, 1993, in Nara. His introduction to shogi came through self-study, as he learned to play by reading books authored by the prominent shogi player Yoshiharu Habu. During his time as a third-grade elementary school student, Saitō had his first encounter with his future mentor, professional shogi player Mamoru Hatakeyama, playing an instructional game against him. Demonstrating his strong ambition and commitment to the game, Saitō, as a fourth-grade student, personally wrote to Hatakeyama, seeking formal instruction and guidance in shogi.
2.2. Apprentice Professional Period
Under the guidance of Mamoru Hatakeyama, Saitō formally entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school in September 2004, beginning at the rank of 6-kyū. His progress within the apprentice system was steady, and he achieved the rank of 1-dan in November 2006. In April 2008, he advanced to the 43rd 3-dan League, a crucial stage for aspiring professionals. Despite his consistent advancement, the final hurdle to professional status proved to be a challenging one, taking him eight seasons of play in the 3-dan League. He finally obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in March 2012 by winning the 50th 3-dan League with an impressive record of 15 wins and 3 losses.
3. Professional Shogi Career
As a professional shogi player, Shintarō Saitō has engaged in numerous high-stakes matches, culminating in major title challenges and a significant championship victory. His career has also been marked by steady rank promotions, notable awards, and consistent financial success.
3.1. Major Title Challenges and Achievements
Shintarō Saitō made his debut in a major title match in June 2017 when he challenged Yoshiharu Habu for the 88th Kisei title. He had earned the right to face Habu by defeating Tetsurō Itodani the preceding April in the challenger round. However, Saitō was defeated in this title match, losing 3 games to 1.
In July 2018, Saitō secured his position as the challenger for the 66th Ōza title by defeating Akira Watanabe. The Ōza title match pitted him against Taichi Nakamura, taking place from September 4 to October 30, 2018. Saitō initially took a commanding lead by winning the first two games, but Nakamura managed to level the series by winning the next two. In a decisive Game 5, Saitō emerged victorious, securing his first major title.
His first defense of the Ōza title, however, was unsuccessful. In October 2019, Saitō lost the 67th Ōza title match to challenger Takuya Nagase with a sweep of 3 games to none.
Saitō continued to pursue major titles, challenging Akira Watanabe for the latter's Meijin title in April-June 2021. He ultimately lost the 79th Meijin title match by a score of 4 games to 1. The following year, in April-May 2022, Saitō again challenged Akira Watanabe for the Meijin title in the 80th Meijin title match, but he once more lost with the same score of 4 games to 1. To date, Saitō has appeared in five major title matches and has successfully won one major title.
3.2. Promotion History
Saitō's official promotion history is as follows:
- 6-kyū: 2004
- 3-dan: April 2008
- 4-dan: April 1, 2012
- 5-dan: March 5, 2013
- 6-dan: April 23, 2015
- 7-dan: March 8, 2017
- 8-dan: February 13, 2020
3.3. Awards and Honors
Shintarō Saitō has been recognized by the Japan Shogi Association with several Annual Shogi Awards:
- Best New Player: 2015
- Best Winning Percentage: 2015, 2016
3.4. Prize Money and Game Fee Rankings
Shintarō Saitō has consistently performed well in the Japan Shogi Association's annual year-end prize money and game fee rankings, finishing in the "Top 10" on four occasions since becoming a professional player:
- 2018: 8th, with earnings of 23.93 M JPY.
- 2019: 10th, with earnings of 18.68 M JPY.
- 2021: 6th, with earnings of 25.67 M JPY.
- 2022: 5th, with earnings of 23.62 M JPY.
4. Evaluation and Impact
Shintarō Saitō stands as a prominent figure in the contemporary shogi world, marked by his consistent performance and challenges against top-ranked players. His achievement of winning the Ōza title in 2018 solidified his position among the elite shogi professionals, demonstrating his capability to secure major championships. Although his subsequent attempts at title defenses and challenges for the prestigious Meijin and Kisei titles were not victorious, his repeated appearances in these high-profile matches underscore his sustained competitive strength and strategic acumen. His consistent presence in the "Top 10" of the Japan Shogi Association's prize money rankings further attests to his financial success and stable standing within the professional shogi community. Saitō's dedication, evidenced by his meticulous learning from shogi books and his persistent journey through the apprentice ranks, contributes to his reputation as a formidable and respected player in the sport.