english

Yoshiharu Habu

Yoshiharu Habu was born on September 27, 1970, and became a professional shogi player in 1985 at the age of 15.

In 1988, he won his first NHK Cup, defeating four former Meijin champions during the tournament. This victory earned him the title of Player of the Year, making him the youngest to receive the award and the first player without a major title to do so.

In 1989, at the age of 19, he won his first major title, the Ryūō.

He is best known for being the first player to hold all seven major shogi titles simultaneously, an achievement he accomplished in 1996.

Throughout his career, Habu has won the most titles in the history of shogi, with a total of 99 victories.

Habu is also a professional chess player.

In 2018, he received the People’s Honor Award, Japan’s highest government honor.

In June 2023, he became the president of the Japan Shogi Association.

The impressive list of Habu’s 99 titles:

Ryūō: 7 times
Meijin: 9 times
Kisei: 16 times
Ōi: 18 times
Ōza: 24 times
Kiō: 13 times
Ōshō: 12 times

english

Yoshiharu Habu

Meijin
1994 1995 1996 2003 2008 2009 2010 2014 2015
9

Ryuo
1989 1992 1994 1995 2001 2002 2017
7

Eio
0

Kio
1991 1992 2993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2005
13

Kisei
1993* 1993** 1994* 1994** 1995 2000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
16

Oi
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2004 2005 2006 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
18

Osho
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
12

Oza
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
24