Hifumi Katō

Hifumi Katō
Hifumi Katō
	Katō after receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in May 2018.
Native name	加藤一二三
Born	January 1, 1940 (age 85)
Hometown	Kama, Fukuoka
Nationality	Japanese
Career
Achieved professional status	August 1, 1954 (aged 14)
Badge Number	64
Rank	9-dan
Retired	June 20, 2017 (62 years)
Teacher	Shōji Kenmochi [ja] (9-dan)
Major titles won	8
Tournaments won	23
Career record	1324–1180 (.529)
Websites
	JSA profile page

Hifumi Katō (加藤一二三, Katō Hifumi, born January 1, 1940) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan.^[2]

He is a former Meijin, Tenth Dan, Ōi, Kiō and Ōshō major title holder.

He has the nicknames 123^[a] and ひふみん Hifumin given by his fans.^[3]

Katō had the record for the youngest professional player who went pro at 14 years and 7 months old until Sōta Fujii became professional in 2016 at age 14 years and 2 months.^[4]

Shogi professional

Playing style

Katō is known for playing aggressive Climbing Silver strategies. He received a Masuda Special Award in 2017 for his innovations to this strategy over his career.^[5]

Katō's Double Fortress

☖ pieces in hand: –

9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
香	桂						桂	香	1
	飛		銀			金	王		2
歩			歩		金	銀	歩	歩	3
		歩	角	歩	歩	歩			4
	歩								5
		歩	歩	歩		歩	歩	歩	6
歩	歩	銀	金		歩	銀			7
	玉	金	角				飛		8
香	桂						桂	香	9

☗ pieces in hand: –

Additionally, the Katō variation (加藤流 katō-ryū) of the Double Fortress opening is named after him.

Promotion history

Katō's promotion history is as follows:^[6]

3-kyū: 1951
1-dan: 1953
4-dan: August 1, 1954
5-dan: April 1, 1955
6-dan: April 1, 1956
7-dan: April 1, 1957
8-dan: April 1, 1958
9-dan: November 3, 1973
Retired: June 20, 2017

Titles and other championships

Katō appeared in major title matches a total of twenty-four times, and won a total of eight titles.^[7] In addition to major titles, Katō won twenty-three other shogi championships during his career.^[8]

Major titles

Title	Years	Number of times overall
Meijin	1982	1
^*Tenth Dan^[b]	1968, 1980–81	3
Ōi	1984	1
Kiō	1976–77	2
Ōshō	1978	1

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Other championships

Tournament	Years	Number of times
Ōza^[c]	1962	1
NHK Cup	1960, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1993	7
^*Hayazashi Senshuken [ja]	1977, 1981, 1990	3
JT Nihon Series [ja]	1983, 1987	2
^*Tennō-sen [ja]	1985	1
^*Meishō-sen [ja]	1982	1
Prince Takamatsu Award Shogi Tournament [ja]	1956, 1964, 1966	3
^*Japan No.1 Cup Tournament [ja]	1958, 1960	2
^*6-dan, 5-dan, 4-dan tournament [ja]	1955	1
^*Hayazashi Ōi Ketteisen [ja]	1959	1
Other		1

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Awards and honors

Katō has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments in both on an off the shogi board. These include the Annual Shogi Awards given out by the JSA for performance in official games and other awards given out by governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.^[9]^[10]

Annual shogi awards

4th Annual Awards (April 1976 – March 1977): Most Games Won, Most Consecutive Games Won, Technique Award
5th Annual Awards (April 1977 – March 1978): Distinguished Service Award
6th Annual Awards (April 1978 – March 1979): Distinguished Service Award
8th Annual Awards (April 1980 – March 1981): Distinguished Service Award
9th Annual Awards (April 1981 – March 1982): Player of the Year, Most Consecutive Games Won
12th Annual Awards (April 1984 – March 1985): Most Games Won, Most Games Played
29th Annual Awards (April 2001 – March 2002): Tokyo Press Club Award
44th Annual Awards (April 2016 – March 2017): Special Award, Kōzō Masuda Award Special Prize

Other awards

1977: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
1978: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
1982: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)
1986: Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester
1989: Special Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 1,000 official games as a professional)
1993: 40 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for forty years)
2000: Medal with Purple Ribbon
2001: 1200 Wins Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 1,200 official games as a professional)
2003: 50 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for fifty years)
2022: Person of Cultural Merit^[11]

Personal life

Katō was baptized as a Catholic in 1970, and his Christian name is Paul. He was made a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by Pope John Paul II in 1986.^[12]

Notes

^ His given name, Hifumi, is composed of the characters 一, hi, 二, fu, and 三, mi, the kun'yomi readings for 'one', 'two', and 'three' respectively.
^ The Tenth Dan major title became the Ryūō title in 1987
^ The Ōza tournament was upgraded to major title status in 1982.

References

^ "Katō Kudan Yabure Intai Saikō Nenrei Nanajūnanasai Kishi Seikatsu Rokujūsannen ni Maku" 加藤九段敗れ引退最高齢77歳棋士生活63年に幕 [Shogi's older professional Hifumi Katō retires after losing last official game; the 77-year-old Katō's career spanned 63 years.]. Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 21, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
^ "Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii known for fiery competitive spirit since kindergarten". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018. In his debut match as a pro in December, Fujii defeated Kato, who is one of the most famous players in the nation, known as "Hifumin" by his fans.
^ "Boy, 14, breaks record for youngest pro 'shogi' player". Japan Times. Jiji Press. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
^ "Announcement of the 44th Shogi Grand Prize Winners". March 31, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōdan" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
^ "Matsumoto Hakuō-shi ra Rokunin ni Bunka Kunshō Kōrōsha ni Matsutoya Yumi-shi ra" 松本白鸚氏ら6人に文化勲章功労者に松任谷由実氏ら [Hakuō Matsumoto and six others receive Order of Cultural Merit while Yumi Matsutoya and several others named persons of cultural merit]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
^ Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Jō] A-Ta Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [上] あ-た [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [First volume] Letter "A" to Letter "Ta"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 31. Retrieved April 19, 2019 – via Google Books.

External links

ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Kato, Hifumi
Shogi Fan: Kato Hifumi becomes the oldest shogi player

[3] His given name, Hifumi, is composed of the characters 一, hi, 二, fu, and 三, mi, the kun'yomi readings for 'one', 'two', and 'three' respectively.

[10] The Tenth Dan major title became the Ryūō title in 1987

[11] The Ōza tournament was upgraded to major title status in 1982.

[1] "Katō Kudan Yabure Intai Saikō Nenrei Nanajūnanasai Kishi Seikatsu Rokujūsannen ni Maku" 加藤九段敗れ引退最高齢77歳棋士生活63年に幕 [Shogi's older professional Hifumi Katō retires after losing last official game; the 77-year-old Katō's career spanned 63 years.]. Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). June 21, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

[2] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.

[4] "Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii known for fiery competitive spirit since kindergarten". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018. In his debut match as a pro in December, Fujii defeated Kato, who is one of the most famous players in the nation, known as "Hifumin" by his fans.

[5] "Boy, 14, breaks record for youngest pro 'shogi' player". Japan Times. Jiji Press. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2022.

[6] "Announcement of the 44th Shogi Grand Prize Winners". March 31, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.

[7] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōdan" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 18, 2021.

[8] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.

[9] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.

[12] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.

[13] "Kishi Dētabēsu: Katō Hifumi Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 加藤一二三その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hifumi Katō Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 19, 2019.

[14] "Matsumoto Hakuō-shi ra Rokunin ni Bunka Kunshō Kōrōsha ni Matsutoya Yumi-shi ra" 松本白鸚氏ら6人に文化勲章功労者に松任谷由実氏ら [Hakuō Matsumoto and six others receive Order of Cultural Merit while Yumi Matsutoya and several others named persons of cultural merit]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

[2016databook-15] Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Jō] A-Ta Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [上] あ-た [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [First volume] Letter "A" to Letter "Ta"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 31. Retrieved April 19, 2019 – via Google Books.

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