Ōza (shogi)
Ōza (王座) is one of the eight titles in Japanese professional shogi.
The word literally means "king's seat", i.e., "throne". The tournament started in 1953 as a knockout tournament with three games in the final match and was a non-title tournament up until 1982.[1] The challenger for the title is determined through three preliminary rounds. The player that wins three games out of five in the championship match becomes the new Ōza title holder. [2]
The tournament is sponsored by Nikkei, Inc. (日本経済新聞社 nihon keizai shinbunsha), a newspaper conglomerate that publishes The Nikkei and the Nikkei 225 stock market index. The current Ōza title holder is Sōta Fujii.
Lifetime Ōza[edit]
"Lifetime Ōza" (名誉王座) is the title given to a player who won the championship five times in a row or ten times in total. Active players may qualify for this title, but it is only officially awarded upon their reaching the age of 60 years, retirement or death.[3]
- Lifetime Ōza title holders
- Makoto Nakahara (won championship ten times when it was a non-title tournament)[4]
- Yoshiharu Habu[5]
Winners[edit]
From 1953 until 1982, the tournament was just regular tournament and not a major title match. From 1953 to 1969, two finalists would play a 3-game match to determine the overall winner; the 1st Oza match (1953), however, was only a single game. From 1970 to 1982, the winner of the previous year's tournament would play the winner of a qualifying tournament in a 3-game match.[6]
| No. | Year | Winner | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1953 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 1–0 | Yūzō Maruta |
| 2 | 1954 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Kōzō Masuda |
| 3 | 1955 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Renshō Nada |
| 4 | 1956 | Seiichi Kobori | 2–1 | Kazukiyo Takashima |
| 5 | 1957 | Shigeyuki Matsuda | 2–1 | Seiichi Kobori |
| 6 | 1958 | Masao Tsukada | 2–1 | Tatsuya Futakami |
| 7 | 1959 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Michiyoshi Yamada |
| 8 | 1960 | Yūzō Maruta | 2–1 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
| 9 | 1961 | Sōetsu Honma | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 10 | 1962 | Hifumi Katō | 2–0 | Michihito Kumagai |
| 11 | 1963 | Renshō Nada | 2–1 | Hirobumi Sekizawa |
| 12 | 1964 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 13 | 1965 | Yūzō Maruta | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 14 | 1966 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Yūzō Maruta |
| 15 | 1967 | Michiyoshi Yamada | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 16 | 1968 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 17 | 1969 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Michio Ariyoshi |
| 18 | 1970 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Tatsuya Futakami |
| 19 | 1971 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 20 | 1972 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 21 | 1973 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Genichi Ōno |
| 22 | 1974 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
| 23 | 1975 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama | 2–0 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 24 | 1976 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama |
| 25 | 1977 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 26 | 1978 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 27 | 1979 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 28 | 1980 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 29 | 1981 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Osamu Katsuura |
| 30 | 1982 | Kunio Naitō | 2–0 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
For the 31st Oza Match (1983), the tournament was officially elevated to major title match status and starting with the 32nd Oza Match, the format switched to a best-of-five.
| No. | Year | Winner | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1983 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Kunio Naitō |
| 32 | 1984 | Makoto Nakahara (2) | 3–2 | Hidemitsu Moriyasu |
| 33 | 1985 | Makoto Nakahara (3) | 3–1 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 34 | 1986 | Makoto Nakahara (4) | 3–0 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama |
| 35 | 1987 | Yasuaki Tsukada | 3–2 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 36 | 1988 | Makoto Nakahara (5) | 3–0 | Yasuaki Tsukada |
| 37 | 1989 | Makoto Nakahara (6) | 3–2 | Teruichi Aono |
| 38 | 1990 | Kōji Tanigawa | 3–1 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 39 | 1991 | Bungo Fukusaki | 3–2 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 40 | 1992 | Yoshiharu Habu | 3–0 | Bungo Fukusaki |
| 41 | 1993 | Yoshiharu Habu (2) | 3–1 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 42 | 1994 | Yoshiharu Habu (3) | 3–0 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 43 | 1995 | Yoshiharu Habu (4) | 3–0 | Keiji Mori |
| 44 | 1996 | Yoshiharu Habu (5) | 3–0 | Akira Shima |
| 45 | 1997 | Yoshiharu Habu (6) | 3–0 | Akira Shima |
| 46 | 1998 | Yoshiharu Habu (7) | 3–2 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 47 | 1999 | Yoshiharu Habu (8) | 3–1 | Tadahisa Maruyama |
| 48 | 2000 | Yoshiharu Habu (9) | 3–2 | Takeshi Fujii |
| 49 | 2001 | Yoshiharu Habu (10) | 3–1 | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 50 | 2002 | Yoshiharu Habu (11) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 51 | 2003 | Yoshiharu Habu (12) | 3–2 | Akira Watanabe |
| 52 | 2004 | Yoshiharu Habu (13) | 3–1 | Toshiyuki Moriuchi |
| 53 | 2005 | Yoshiharu Habu (14) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 54 | 2006 | Yoshiharu Habu (15) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 55 | 2007 | Yoshiharu Habu (16) | 3–0 | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 56 | 2008 | Yoshiharu Habu (17) | 3–0 | Kazuki Kimura |
| 57 | 2009 | Yoshiharu Habu (18) | 3–0 | Takayuki Yamasaki |
| 58 | 2010 | Yoshiharu Habu (19) | 3–0 | Takeshi Fujii |
| 59 | 2011 | Akira Watanabe | 3–0 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 60 | 2012 | Yoshiharu Habu (20) | 3–1 | Akira Watanabe |
| 61 | 2013 | Yoshiharu Habu (21) | 3–2[7] | Taichi Nakamura |
| 62 | 2014 | Yoshiharu Habu (22) | 3–2[8] | Masayuki Toyoshima |
| 63 | 2015 | Yoshiharu Habu (23) | 3–2[9] | Amahiko Satō |
| 64 | 2016 | Yoshiharu Habu (24) | 3–0[10] | Tetsuro Itodani |
| 65 | 2017 | Taichi Nakamura | 3–1[11] | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 66 | 2018 | Shintarō Saitō | 3–2[12] | Taichi Nakamura |
| 67 | 2019 | Takuya Nagase | 3–0[13] | Shintarō Saitō |
| 68 | 2020 | Takuya Nagase (2) | 3–2[14] | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 69 | 2021 | Takuya Nagase (3) | 3–1[15] | Kazuki Kimura |
| 70 | 2022 | Takuya Nagase (4) | 3–1[16] | Masayuki Toyoshima |
| 71 | 2023 | Sōta Fujii | 3–1[17] | Takuya Nagase |
Records[edit]
- Most titles overall: Yoshiharu Habu, 24
- Most consecutive titles: Yoshiharu Habu, 19 in a row (1992-2010)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Hodges, George, ed. (1977). "Introduction to the Ôza tournament". Shogi (6): 4.
- ^ "Ōzasen" 王座戦 [Oza Title Match] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ "Nakahara Makoto Eisei 10-dan・Meiyo Ōza Tanjō e" 中原 誠 永世十段・名誉王座"誕生へ [Makoto Nakahara was crowned as Lifetime 10-dan and Lifetime Ōza] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Kishi Shokai: Nakahara Makoto" 棋士紹介: 中原誠 [Player Introduction: Makoto Nakahara] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Kishi Shokai: Habu Yoshiharu" 棋士紹介: 羽生善治 [Player Introduction: Yoshiharu Habu] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Tanabe, Tadayuki (2006). Shōgi Hachi Daikisen Hiwa 将棋八大棋戦秘話 [Shogi, Untold Stories from 8 Major Title Matches] (in Japanese). Sedagaya, Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers, Inc. p. 169. ISBN 4309268706.
- ^ "Habu ga Ōza Bōei, Tsūsan Nijūikki Dōichi Taitoru Saita" 羽生が王座防衛 通算21期 同一タイトル最多 [Habu defends Ōza title, wins Ōza for the 21st time overall to set record for most times winning the same title]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Fukamatsu, Shinji (October 24, 2014). "Habu Ōza ga Bōei Taitoru Kakutoku Kyūjūki ni Shōgi Ōzasen" 羽生王座が防衛 タイトル獲得は90期に 将棋王座戦 [Habu Defends Oza Title for his 90th Major Title Overall]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Fukamatsu, Shinji (October 26, 2015). "Habu Ōza ga Bōei ni Seiko Shōgi Ōzasen, Yonnen Renzoku Nijūsankime" 羽生王座が防衛に成功 将棋王座戦, 4年連続23期目 [Habu Successfully Defends Oza Title for 4th Consecutive Year to Hold Title for 23rd Time Overall]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 4, 2016). "Habu Sankan ga Ōza Bōei, Itodani Hachidan ni Sanrenshō" 羽生3冠が王座防衛 糸谷八段に3連勝 [Habu 3-crown defends Oza title by defeating Itodani 8d three straight games]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2016.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 11, 2017). "Nakamura Taichi Rokudan ga Hatsu no Ōza Kakutoku, Habu Kisei Ikkan e Kōtai" 中村太地六段が初の王座獲得 羽生棋聖１冠へ後退 [Taichi Nakamura 6d wins Oza title for first major title. Habu Kisei drops to a 1-crown]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- ^ "Shōgi, Saitō ga Hatsu Taitoru Ōza Kakutoku Saishūkyoku de Nakamura Yaburu" 将棋, 斎藤が初タイトル王座獲得 最終局で中村破る [Saitō wins first major shogi title; defeats Nakamura in final game to capture Ōza title.]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 1, 2019). "Nagase Eiō ga Ōza Dasshu Saitō, Hatsu Bōei Narazu" 永瀬叡王が王座奪取 斎藤, 初防衛ならず [Nagase Eiō capture Ōza title; Saitō unsuccessful in first title defense]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "Shōgi･Nagase Ōza ga Bōei Sanshō Nihai de Kubo Kudan Yaburu" 将棋･永瀬王座が初防衛 3勝2敗で久保九段破る [Nagase Ōza defends title; defeats Kubo 9-dan 3 games to 2]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Nagase Ōza Sanrenpa, Sanshō Ippai de Kimura Kudan Kudasu Shōgi Ōzasen" 永瀬王座3連覇, 3勝1敗で木村九段下す 将棋王座戦 [Nagase Ōza threepeats by defeating Kimura 9-dan 3 games to 1]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Nagase Ōza ga Bōei ni Seikō, Yonrenpa Tassei" 永瀬王座が防衛に成功, 4連覇達成 [Nagase Ōza successfully defends title, win Ōza title for the fourth consecutive time]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Inoue, Yukana (October 11, 2023). "Sota Fujii becomes first ever to win all eight major shogi titles". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
External links[edit]
- 61st Oza Match Official Site (in Japanese) by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and the Japanese Shogi Association
- Shogi Kingdom (in Japanese) by Nihon Keizai Shimbun