Kenji Waki (脇 謙二, Waki Kenji, born August 10, 1960) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is also currently the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.
Waki was born on August 10, 1960, in Osaka, Japan.[1] He learned shogi at a shogi class taught by shogi professional Kazukiyo Takashima [ja], and in 1975 he was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under the guidance of Takashima at the rank of 5-kyū. He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1977, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 1978.[2][3]
Waki became the 48th professional to win 600 official games when he defeated Masahiko Urano on February 3, 2015.[4]
In March 2019, Waki voluntarily declared himself as a free class player, thus leaving the Meijin tournament league.[5][6][7]
Waki is known for his innovations in the Yagura opening, and the Waki System is named after him.[3]
The promotion history for Waki is as follows:[8]
Waki has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won three non-title championships during his career. He won the Young Lions Tournament [ja] once (1983), and the Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament [ja] twice (1984 and 1985).[9]
Waki received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years in 2004, and the "Shogi Honor Award" in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional in 2015.[10] He also received the Japan Shogi Association's “Masuda Special Prize” Annual Shogi Award for the 2019–2020 shogi year.[11]
Waki was selected to be the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors for a two-year term at the association's 70th General Meeting on June 7, 2019,[12] and re-elected to additional two-year terms in June 2021[13] and June 2023.[14]
Waki is married to professional Go player Masako Araki.[3]
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