■Nathan Shiga: December 13

The popular games of Shogi and Go are now in the limelight as the legendary masters of both games are slated to receive the People’s Honor Award by virtue of their unrivaled feats. Cabinet Secretary Suga bared the government’s intention to consider offering the award to two outstanding players of both games.

The unequaled Shogi Master Yoshiharu Habu, 47, had earlier dethroned his archrival, Akira Watanabe, to win the long-awaited title “Ryuwo” to complete his challenge at “Seven Permanent Titles” of the game. The permanent title is an honorary title to earmark an honor for a lifetime a player having won the set number of championships. Habu has made a clean sweep of all the seven titles of the game.

Meanwhile, the Go grand-champion Yuta Iyama, 28, has completed his own feats of dominating Go’s seven leading titles for two times by winning the Meijin Title last October for the first time in the history of Go.

Habu had a press interview at Tokyo’s Japan Press Club, December 13, to express his gratitude for such an honor and bared his wish to keep abreast with the fast-evolving game of Shogi.

Asked about his motivations for future endeavors, Habu mentioned his wish to readily mark 1400th win nearing at hand and also to step up his winning streak of championships one more to 100.

In his own press interview in Tokyo, Iyama said he was surprised at the news of the People’s Honor Award and added:

“I believe it is a great honor for the world Go.

“Game is charming as it is free and open to all ages irrespective of nationality.

” I have my mind made up to challenge the international match in February next year to show to the world Japan still has a lot to offer in the world of Go.”

—Sponsered Link—