Yasuaki Tsukada (塚田 泰明, Tsukada Yasuaki, born November 16, 1964) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Ōza title holder and the inventor of the influential Tsukada Special strategy, which he used to win numerous games in the 1980s, is named after him.
| Yasuaki Tsukada | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1964 |
| Hometown | Tokyo Metropolis |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | March 5, 1981 (aged 16) |
| Badge Number | 148 |
| Rank | 9-dan |
| Teacher | Nobuyuki Ōuchi (9-dan) |
| Major titles won | 1 |
| Tournaments won | 3 |
| Meijin class | Free |
| Ryūō class | 6 |
| Notable students | |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship
editTsukada was born in Tokyo Metropolis on November 16, 1964.[1] In 1978, he finished runner-up in the 32nd Amateur Meijin Tournament and in November of that same year he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 4-kyū under the guidance of Nobuyuki Ōuchi.[2]
Shogi professional
editTsukada is a member of the so-called Shōwa 55 group (55年組), a group of eight strong players that become professional in 1980–1981 (Year 55 of the Shōwa period) and won numerous shogi tournaments. Others in the group include Yoshikazu Minami, Osamu Nakamura, Michio Takahashi, Akira Shima, Hiroshi Kamiya, Masaki Izumi, and Yūji Yoda.[3]
Promotion history
editThe promotion history for Tsukada is as follows:[4]
- 4-kyū: 1978
- 1-dan: 1979
- 4-dan: March 5, 1981
- 5-dan: April 1, 1983
- 6-dan: April 1, 1986
- 7-dan: April 1, 1987
- 8-dan: April 1, 1988
- 9-dan: December 15, 2000
Titles and other championships
editTsukada has appeared in major title matches twice. He won the 35th Ōza in 1987 for his only major title.[5] In addition to major titles, Tsukada has won three other shogi championships during his career: the Shinjin-Ō in 1986, and the now defunct Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament in 1983 and 1987.[6]
Awards and honors
editTsukada has received a number awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board. These include awards given out annually by the JSA for performance in official games as well as other awards for achievement.[7][8]
Annual Shogi Awards
edit- 13th Annual Awards (April 1985 – March 1986): Technique Award
- 14th Annual Awards (April 1986 – March 1987): Most Consecutive Games Won, Technique Award
- 15th Annual Awards (April 1987 – March 1988): Technique Award
- 42nd Annual Awards (April 2014 – March 2015): Kōzō Masuda Special Award
Other awards
edit- 2005: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
- 2008: Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
Personal life
editTsukada is married to retired women's shogi professional Sachiko Takamure. The couple's eldest daughter Erika is also a women's shogi professional.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki" 棋士データベース: 塚田泰明 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Meikan: Kudan Tsukada Yasuaki" 棋士名鑑: 九段 塚田 泰明 [Player Directory: Yasuaki Tsukada 9-dan]. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition) (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 551. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved February 19, 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ Naoe, Ametsugu (January 18, 2017). "Nakamura Osamu Ichimon wo Goshōkai!" 中村修一門をご紹介! [Introducing the Osamu Nakamura "shogi family"!] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース:塚田泰明 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 塚田泰明 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 塚田泰明 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 塚田泰明 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Tsukada Yasuaki Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 塚田泰明 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuaki Tsukada Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Tsukada Erika Kenshūkain ga Jugatsu yori Joryū Nikyū ni" 塚田恵梨花研修会員が10月より女流２級に [Training group member Erika Tsukada becomes Female professional 2-kyū from October] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 22, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2018.