Kazuo Azuma (東 和男, Azuma Kazuo, August 17, 1955) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.[2] He is a former senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.
| Kazuo Azuma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | 東和男 |
| Born | August 17, 1955 |
| Hometown | Sasebo, Nagasaki |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | July 16, 1976 (aged 20) |
| Badge Number | 128 |
| Rank | 8-dan |
| Retired | May 17, 2021 (aged 65) |
| Teacher | Kazukiyo Takashima (9-dan) |
| Career record | 479–681 (.413)[1] |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Shogi professional
editOn April 1, 2021, the JSA posted on its official website that Azuma would be retiring upon completion of is last scheduled official game for the April 2021 – March 2022 shogi season because he had reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 years for Free Class players.[3] His retirement became official on May 17, 2021, after losing his 34th Ryūō tournament Group 6 preliminary round game against Yūsei Koga.[4][5] He finished with a career record of 479 wins and 681 losses for a winning percentage of 0.413.[1]
Promotion history
editThe promotion history for Azuma is as follows:[6]
- 6-kyū: 1971
- 1-dan: 1974
- 4-dan: July 16, 1976
- 5-dan: April 1, 1980
- 6-dan: April 1, 1984
- 7-dan: December 18, 1992
- 8-dan: April 1, 2015
- Retired: May 17, 2021
Awards and honors
editAzuma received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years in 2001.[7]
JSA director
editAzuma has served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors on a number of occasions. He first served as a director from 1995 to 2004,[8] and then as a managing director from 2005 to 2006[8] and from 2011 to 2017.[9][10][11]
In February 2017, Azuma was one of the two JSA board members to survive a no-confidence vote taken at an emergency meeting of the JSA membership as part of the fallout from 29th Ryūō challenger controversy.[12][13] The following month he was elevated to senior managing director by the JSA board at a special meeting;[14][15] he served in that capacity until the end of May 2017, but decided not to submit his name as a candidate for reelection as a board member at the JSA's 68th General Meeting on May 29, 2017.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tsūsan Seiseki" 通算成績 [Career Records] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 23, 2021. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Azuma Kazuo" 棋士データベース: 東和男 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Azuma] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjō Kishi no Oshirase" 昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ [Promotions, retirements and leaves of absence] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ "Shōgi no Azuma Kazuo Hachidan Haisen de Intai Kettei, Yonjūnenyo no Geneki Seikatsu ni Maku Katsute Ryūō-sen Ichikumi ni Saiseki, Senmu Riji mo Rekinin" 将棋の東和男八段 敗戦で引退決定, 40年余の現役生活に幕 かつて竜王戦1組に在籍, 専務理事も歴任 [Kazuo Azuma 8-dan retires from professional shogi after losing his final game; Azuma's career spanned more than 40 years and included highlights such as being a member of Group 1 of the Ryuo League and also serving as managing director of the Japan Shogi Association]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ "Azuma Kazuo Hachidan, Kanezawa Takashi Godan ga Intai" 東和男八段, 金沢孝史五段が引退 [Kazuo Azuma 8-dan and Takashi Kanezawa 5-dan retire] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 18, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Azuma Kazuo Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 東和男 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Azuma Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Azuma Kazuo Eisaku Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 東和男 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Azuma Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Kishi Dētabēsu: Azuma Kazuo Yakuin Rireki" 棋士データベース: 東和男 役員履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Azuma JSA Officer History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 26, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 7, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 4, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "3 shogi board members sacked over mishandling of software 'cheating' scandal". Mainichi Shimbun. February 28, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ Murase, Shinya (February 27, 2017). "Shōgi Renmei no Riji Sannin wo Kainin Sofuto Fusei Sōdō no Taiō Mondai Kaishiin" 将棋連盟の理事3人を解任 ソフト不正騒動の対応問題視 [Three Japan Shogi Association directors dismissed for problems related to the handling of the issue of inappropriate software use]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Azuma Kazuo Jōmuriji ga Senmuriji e" 東和男常務理事が専務理事へ [Kazuo Azuma managing director selected to be new senior managing director] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 17, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 7, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ "Shōgi Renmei, Satō Kaichō wo Sainin Moriuchi Kudan ga Senmuriji ni" 将棋連盟, 佐藤会長を再任 森内九段が専務理事に [Sato re-elected president of JSA, Moriuchi Kudan chosen to be senior director.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 29, 2017. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
External links
edit- ShogiHub: Azuma, Kazuo
 | This shogi-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |