Yoshikazu Minami (shogi)
{{Short description|Japanese shogi player (born 1963)}}
{{Infobox shogi professional
|name = Yoshikazu Minami
|native_name = 南芳一
|born = {{birth date and age|1963|6|08|mf=yes}}
|hometown = Kishiwada, Osaka
|nationality =
|pro_date = {{event date and age|1981|1|19|1963|6|08}}
|badge_no = 147
|teacher = {{ill|Akira Kinoshita (shogi)|ja|木下晃|lt=Akira Kinoshita}}
|rank = 9-dan
|teacher_rank = 7-dan
|no_titles = 7
|tournaments = 6
|meijinclass = Free
|ryuoclass = 6
|jsa = 147
}}
{{nihongo|Yoshikazu Minami|南 芳一|Minami Yoshikazu|June 8, 1963}} is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Kisei, Kiō, and Ōshō title holder.
Early life and apprenticeship
Minami was born in Kishiwada, Osaka on June 8, 1963. He entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 5-kyū in 1975 as a protegee of shogi professional {{ill|Akira Kinoshita (shogi)|ja|木下晃|lt=Akira Kinoshita}}. He obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in January 1981.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 6, 2018}}
Shogi professional
Minami 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 Osamu Nakamura, Michio Takahashi, Akira Shima, Yasuaki Tsukada, Hiroshi Kamiya, Masaki Izumi, and {{ill|Yūji Yoda|ja|依田有司}}.{{cite web|last=Naoe|first=Ametsugu|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/column/2017/01/3_4.html|script-title=ja:中村修一門をご紹介!|title=Nakamura Osamu Ichimon wo Goshōkai!|language=ja|trans-title=Introducing the Osamu Nakamura "shogi family"!|date=January 18, 2017|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 6, 2019}}
In January 2018, Minami became the 20th shogi professional to win 800 official games and be awarded Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award by the JSA.{{cite news|author=|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2018/11/16/kiji/20181116s000413F2211000c.html|script-title=ja:南芳一九段、藤井七段との激闘 ｢勝ったと思った瞬間も...]|title=Minami Yoshikazu Kudan Fujii Sōta Shichidan to no Gekitō ｢Katta to Omotta Shunkan ...｣|language=ja|trans-title=Yoshikazu Minami 9d on his hotly contested game against Sota Fujii 7d: "There was a moment that I thought I had won ..."|date=November 16, 2018|newspaper=Sports Nippon|access-date=June 6, 2019}}{{cite news|author=|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190128/ddl/k27/040/189000c|url-access=subscription|script-title=ja:南芳一九段 20人目の栄誉敢闘賞|title=Minami Yoshikazu Kudan Nijūninme no Eiyokantōshō|language=ja|trans-title=Yoshikazu Minami is the 20th Shogi Professional to be awarded the Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award|date=January 1, 2019|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=June 6, 2019}}
Minami finished the 81st Meijin Ranking League season with a record of 1 wins and 9 losses in Class C2.{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/junni/2022/81c2/index.html|script-title=ja:第81期名人戦･順位戦 C級2組|title=Dai Hachijūikki Meijin-sen･Jun'i-sen Sīkyū Nikumi|language=ja|trans-title=81st Mejin Ranking League: Class C2|year=2022{{ndash}}2023|access-date=April 6, 2023}} Since his result earned him a second relegation point, he decided to become "Free class" player instead of risking the automatic relegation that happens when a player receives three relegation points in Class C2.{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2023/04/post_2275.html|script-title=ja:昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ|title=Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjo Kishi no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=Promotions, retirements and leaves of absence|date=April 3, 2023|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 6, 2023}}
=Playing style=
Minami is known for his steady style of starting games slowly as for his quiet manner and strict seiza posture during games. For these reasons, his style is often referred to as the {{nihongo|Jizō-style|地蔵流|Jizōryū}} after the Jizō statues common to Japanese Buddhism.
=Promotion history=
The promotion history for Minami is as follows:{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一 昇段履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami Promotion History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 5, 2019}}
- 5-kyū: 1977
- 1-dan: 1978
- 4-dan: January 19, 1981
- 5-dan: April 1, 1982
- 6-dan: April 1, 1983
- 7-dan: April 1, 1985
- 8-dan: April 1, 1986
- 9-dan: February 22, 1989
=Titles and other championships=
Minami has appeared in major title matches a total of sixteen times, and has won seven major titles.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html#anc01|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一 タイトル履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu Taitoru Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami Major Title History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 5, 2019}} In addition to major titles, Minami has won six non-title championships during his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html#anc02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一 優勝履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu Yūshō Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami Championship History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 5, 2019}}
==Major titles==
==Other championships==
| class="wikitable"
!Tournament | Years | Number of times |
| *{{ill|Young Lions (shogi)|lt=Young Lions|ja|若獅子戦}}
|1982{{ndash}}1983 |2 | ||
| *{{ill|All Star Kachinuki-sen|ja|オールスター勝ち抜き戦}}
| 1983, 1989, 1993 |3 | ||
| *{{ill|Hayazashi Senshuken|ja|早指し将棋選手権}}
|1989 |1 |
Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.
=Awards and honors=
Minami has received a number of 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 JSA awards for career accomplishments, and awards received from governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html#anc03|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一 将棋大賞|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu Shōgi Taishō|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami Annual Shogi Awards|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 5, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/147.html#anc04|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 南芳一 その他表彰|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Minami Yoshikazu Sonota Hyōshō|language=Japanese|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Yoshikazu Minami Other Awards|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 5, 2019}}
==Annual shogi awards==
- 10th Annual Awards (April 1982{{sndash}}March 1983): Best New Player, Best Winning Percentage, Most Consecutive Games Won
- 13th Annual Awards (April 1985{{sndash}}March 1986): Most Consecutive Games Won
- 15th Annual Awards (April 1987{{sndash}}March 1988): Distinguished Service Award
- 16th Annual Awards (April 1988{{sndash}}March 1989): Fighting-spirit Award
- 17th Annual Awards (April 1989{{sndash}}March 1990): Technique Award
==Other awards==
- 1988, November: Kishiwada City Meritorious Citizen Award
- 2003: Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
- 2005: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
- 2018: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- ShogiHub: [http://shogihub.com/players/11 Professional Player Info · Minami, Yoshikazu]
{{Professional Shogi Players|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minami, Yoshikazu}}
Category:Japanese shogi players
Category:Japan Shogi Association players
Category:Free class shogi players
Category:Professional shogi players from Osaka Prefecture
Category:People from Kishiwada, Osaka
{{Shogi-stub}}