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Retired shogi player Hifumi Kato dies at 86

Retired pro shogi player Hifumi Kato (R) chats with young player Sota Fujii in Tokyo in November 2018. The former holder of the most prestigious Meijin title, Kato died of pneumonia on Jan. 22, 2026, aged 86. He had held the record for becoming the youngest pro shogi player at 14 years and seven months in 1954 until Fujii broke it at 14 years and two months in 2016, while he played to the age of 77 years and five months, the oldest on record.

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Retired shogi player Hifumi Kato dies at 86

Retiring pro shogi player Hifumi Kato waves after his retirement press conference in Tokyo in June 2017. The former holder of the most prestigious Meijin title, Kato died of pneumonia on Jan. 22, 2026, aged 86. He had held the record for becoming the youngest pro shogi player at 14 years and seven months in 1954 until Sota Fujii broke it at 14 years and two months in 2016, while he played to the age of 77 years and five months, the oldest on record.

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Retired shogi player Hifumi Kato dies at 86

Retired pro shogi player Hifumi Kato gives an interview in Tokyo in November 2018. The former holder of the most prestigious Meijin title, Kato died of pneumonia on Jan. 22, 2026, aged 86. He had held the record for becoming the youngest pro shogi player at 14 years and seven months in 1954 until Sota Fujii broke it at 14 years and two months in 2016, while he played to the age of 77 years and five months, the oldest on record.

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Retired shogi player Hifumi Kato dies at 86

Pro shogi player Hifumi Kato (R) reviews his match against debutant Sota Fujii after being beaten by him in Tokyo in December 2016. The former holder of the most prestigious Meijin title, Kato died of pneumonia on Jan. 22, 2026, aged 86. He had held the record for becoming the youngest pro shogi player at 14 years and seven months in 1954 until Fujii broke it at 14 years and two months in 2016, while he played to the age of 77 years and five months, the oldest on record.

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[Breaking News]Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii poses at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.(Kyodo)

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 2, 2024, a day after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five title defense in the central Japan city. The 21-year-old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 2, 2024, a day after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five title defense in the central Japan city. The 21-year-old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 2, 2024, a day after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five title defense in the central Japan city. The 21-year-old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 2, 2024, a day after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five title defense in the central Japan city. The 21-year-old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi player Sota Fujii (facing camera) reviews his match against Takayuki Yamasaki after beating him in the third of a best-of-five series of games to defend his Kisei title in Nagoya on July 1, 2024. The win earned Fujii, holder of six other titles, lifetime status for the Kisei, making the 21-year old the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

People in the central Japan city of Seto, shogi star Sota Fujii's hometown, celebrate on July 1, 2024, after he earned lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five title defense in Nagoya. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks in front of fans in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii speaks at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii poses at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii earns lifetime status for Kisei title

Shogi star Sota Fujii poses at a press conference in Nagoya on July 1, 2024, after earning lifetime status for the Kisei title by beating challenger Takayuki Yamasaki 3-0 in a best-of-five defending match in the central Japan city. The 21-year old, who holds six other titles, became the youngest player to get lifetime status for a shogi title.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.(Kyodo)

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New Eio shogi title holder Ito

Shogi player Takumi Ito poses with a bouquet in Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, on June 21, 2024, a day after beating Sota Fujii to secure the Eio title.

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New Eio shogi title holder Ito

Shogi player Takumi Ito smiles at a press conference in Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, central Japan, on June 21, 2024, a day after beating Sota Fujii to secure the Eio title.

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Ito grabs Eio title from Fujii

Shogi player Takumi Ito celebrates with a flower bouquet after grabbing the Eio title from Sota Fujii by beating him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024. Fujii lost one of his eight titles after completing a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Ito grabs Eio title from Fujii

Shogi player Takumi Ito poses after grabbing the Eio title from Sota Fujii by beating him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024. Fujii lost one of his eight titles after completing a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii (R) reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii appears in front of fans after losing to Takumi Ito in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii (R) appears in front of fans after losing to Takumi Ito (L) in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii loses 1 of his 8 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii (R) reviews his match against Takumi Ito after losing to him in Game 5 of the best-of-five series for the Eio title in Kofu, west of Tokyo, on June 20, 2024, losing one of his eight titles. Fujii completed a sweep of the game's eight titles in October 2023, making him the first player ever to hold eight.

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Fujii defends Meijin title

Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (L) reviews his match against Masayuki Toyoshima after defending the most prestigious Meijin title by beating him in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series in Monbetsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan. With his first defense of Meijin, Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, has won or defended all 22 title matches he has fought.

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Fujii defends Meijin title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses with a bouquet of flowers after defending the most prestigious Meijin title 4-1 in a best-of-seven series against Masayuki Toyoshima in Monbetsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on May 27, 2024. With his first defense of Meijin, Fujii has won or defended all 22 title matches he has fought.

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Fujii defends Meijin title

Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (L) reviews his match against Masayuki Toyoshima after defending the most prestigious Meijin title by beating him in Game 5 of the best-of-seven series in Monbetsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan. With his first defense of Meijin, Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, has won or defended all 22 title matches he has fought.

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Fujii defends Meijin title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses with a bouquet of flowers after defending the most prestigious Meijin title 4-1 in a best-of-seven series against Masayuki Toyoshima in Monbetsu in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on May 27, 2024. With his first defense of Meijin, Fujii has won or defended all 22 title matches he has fought.

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Fujii defends Osho title

TOKYO, Japan Kyodo - Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses after defending the Osho title 4-0 in a best-of-seven series against Tatsuya Sugai in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2024. Fujii clinched his first title, Kisei, in July 2020, and won or defended all 19 title matches he has fought since then.(Kyodo)

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Fujii defends Osho title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses after defending the Osho title 4-0 in a best-of-seven series against Tatsuya Sugai in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2024. Fujii clinched his first title, Kisei, in July 2020, and won or defended all 19 title matches he has fought since then.

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Fujii defends Osho title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses after defending the Osho title 4-0 in a best-of-seven series against Tatsuya Sugai in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2024. Fujii clinched his first title, Kisei, in July 2020, and won or defended all 19 title matches he has fought since then.

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Fujii defends Osho title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, attends a press conference after defending the Osho title 4-0 in a best-of-seven series against Tatsuya Sugai in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2024. Fujii clinched his first title, Kisei, in July 2020, and won or defended all 19 title matches he has fought since then.

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Fujii defends Osho title

Sota Fujii, who holds all eight shogi titles, poses after defending the Osho title 4-0 in a best-of-seven series against Tatsuya Sugai in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Feb. 8, 2024. Fujii clinched his first title, Kisei, in July 2020, and won or defended all 19 title matches he has fought since then.

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Fujii wins Game 2 of shogi Meijin series

Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (L) reviews his match against defending champion Akira Watanabe after winning Game 2 of a best-of-seven series for the Meijin title at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shizuoka, central Japan, on April 28, 2023. If Fujii, 20, who won Game 1, claims the series, he will have seven major shogi titles and become the youngest holder of the prestigious Meijin title, which dates back to the early 1600s.

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Fujii wins Game 2 of shogi Meijin series

Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (L) reviews his match against defending champion Akira Watanabe after winning Game 2 of a best-of-seven series for the Meijin title at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shizuoka, central Japan, on April 28, 2023. If Fujii, 20, who won Game 1, claims the series, he will have seven major shogi titles and become the youngest holder of the prestigious Meijin title, which dates back to the early 1600s.

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Fujii wins Game 2 of shogi Meijin series

Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii reviews his match against defending champion Akira Watanabe after winning Game 2 of a best-of-seven series for the Meijin title at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Shizuoka, central Japan, on April 28, 2023. If Fujii, 20, who won Game 1, claims the series, he will have seven major shogi titles and become the youngest holder of the prestigious Meijin title, which dates back to the early 1600s.

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Shogi match between Habu and Fujii at Koshien Stadium

Japan Shogi Association head Yoshiharu Habu (R) and Koshien Stadium head Kakuro Mukai pose for a photo at the ballpark in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Jan. 13, 2024, as they announce Habu will play against Sota Fujii, the holder of all eight shogi titles, at a special event at the ballpark on Dec. 8, 2024, to mark the 100th anniversary later this year of both the stadium and the association. Habu held all of the then seven shogi titles in the 1990s.

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Shogi match between Habu and Fujii at Koshien Stadium

Japan Shogi Association head Yoshiharu Habu meets the press at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Jan. 13, 2024, as he announces he will play against Sota Fujii, the holder of all eight shogi titles, at a special event at the ballpark on Dec. 8, 2024, to mark the 100th anniversary later this year of both the stadium and the association. Habu held all of the then seven shogi titles in the 1990s.

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Shogi match between Habu and Fujii at Koshien Stadium

Japan Shogi Association head Yoshiharu Habu (R) and Koshien Stadium head Kakuro Mukai pose for a photo at the ballpark in Nishinomiya, western Japan, on Jan. 13, 2024, as they announce Habu will play against Sota Fujii, the holder of all eight shogi titles, at a special event at the ballpark on Dec. 8, 2024, to mark the 100th anniversary later this year of both the stadium and the association. Habu held all of the then seven shogi titles in the 1990s.

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Battledores of 2023 newsmakers

TOKYO, Japan Kyodo - Doll maker Kyugetsu Co.'s traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores are shown to the press in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023, with decorations of images of newsmakers of the year of 2023. Those featured include two-way baseball star Shohei Ohtani, who became the first Japanese to win an MLB home run title, and shogi prodigy Sota Fujii, who became the first player ever to hold the board game's eight titles. (Kyodo)

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Shogi prodigy Fujii at ceremony

Eight-title-holding shogi player Sota Fujii speaks at a ceremony celebrating his recent defense of the game's most prestigious Ryuo title in Daisen in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 5, 2023.

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Shogi prodigy Fujii at ceremony

Eight-title-holding shogi player Sota Fujii receives a bouquet of flowers at a ceremony celebrating his recent defense of the game's most prestigious Ryuo title in Daisen in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Dec. 5, 2023.

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Battledores of 2023 newsmakers

Doll maker Kyugetsu Co.'s traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores are shown to the press in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023, with decorations of images of newsmakers of the year of 2023. Those featured include two-way baseball star Shohei Ohtani (far R, front), who became the first Japanese to win an MLB home run title, and shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (3rd from R, front), who became the first player ever to hold the board game's eight titles.

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Battledores of 2023 newsmakers

Doll maker Kyugetsu Co.'s traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores are shown to the press in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023, with decorations of images of newsmakers of the year of 2023. Those featured include two-way baseball star Shohei Ohtani (far R, front), who became the first Japanese to win an MLB home run title, and shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (2nd from L, front), who became the first player ever to hold the board game's eight titles.

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Battledores of 2023 newsmakers

Doll maker Kyugetsu Co.'s traditional Japanese "hagoita" battledores are shown to the press in Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2023, with decorations of images of newsmakers of the year of 2023. Those featured include two-way baseball star Shohei Ohtani (L, front), who became the first Japanese to win an MLB home run title, and shogi prodigy Sota Fujii (R, front), who became the first player ever to hold the board game's eight titles.