■Nathan Shiga: February 17, 2018

Don’t say ‘Not Sota again’, because it can’t be helped. Just imagine Sota Fujii, a junior high school kid of 15 years of age, outplayed the legendary grandmaster of Shogi and another formidable foe in the Asahi Shogi Tournament to snatch the title and simultaneously promoted himself to 6-Dan.

Sota Fuji’s feat is comparable in brilliance to that of Bobby Fischer in chess who became the youngest grandmaster also at age 15, though their accomplishments are not readily comparable since the hierarchy differs from one to the other.

The now retired 9-Dan Hifumi Kato was 16 years and 3 months when he was promoted to 6-Dan and Sota renewed his record by 9 months. The legendary Yoshiharu Habu King of Shogi took him full 19 years to get to that level.

Sota’s master Masataka Sugimoto 7-Dan comments on his feat:

“Sota performed exceedingly well and I feel proud to be part of his accomplishment as his tutor.

“He is still 15 years old and has a lot to learn. I am looking forward to his success.”

Koji Tanigawa 9-Dan said he had not expected to see a junior high school player sweeping a grand tournament, adding:

“I feel like telling the players in the twenties and thirties ‘ Same on you ‘.”

A 9-year-old elementary school pupil said he had started to learn Shogi because he was so fond of Sota Fujii, adding:

“I was nervous watching him play in the final. So happy he was promoted to 6-Dan.

A 50-year-old Shogi fan watching the public viewing board commented he was impressed by Sota Fujii’s composure through his games. adding:

“I was fortunate to witness a historic instance.”

—Sponsered Link—