is a Japanese

professional shogi player A professional shogi player (将棋棋士 ''shōgi kishi'' or プロ棋士 ''puro kishi'' "professional player") is a shogi player who is usually a member of a professional guild of shogi players. There are two categories of professional player ...

ranked 8-

dan Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa **Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Ivoir ...

. He is a former

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''Di ...

of the

Japan Shogi Association The , or JSA, is the primary organizing body for professional shogi in Japan. The JSA sets the professional calendar, negotiates sponsorship and media promotion deals, helps organize tournaments and title matches, publishes shogi-related materia ...

Early life

Sanada was born on October 6, 1972, in

Yachiyo, Chiba 270px, Keisei Rose Gardens is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 202,071 in 91,092 households and a population density of 3900 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Yachiy ...

. In 1985, he entered the

's apprentice school when he was twelve years old at the rank of 6-

kyū is a Japanese term used in modern martial arts as well as in tea ceremony, flower arranging, Go, shogi, academic tests and other similar activities to designate various grades, levels or degrees of proficiency or experience. In Mandarin Chin ...

as a student of shogi professional . He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1988, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 1992.

Promotion history

Sanada's promotion history is as follows: * 6-

: 1985 * 1-dan: 1988 * 4-dan: April 1, 1992 * 5-dan: April 1, 1994 * 6-dan: October 1, 1997 * 7-dan: March 1, 2005 * 8-dan: October 25, 2016

Titles and other championships

Sanada's only appearance in a major title match came in 1997 when he was the challenger for the 10th

Ryūō Ryūō (also Ryu-O, Ryu-oh, Ryuuou; in Japanese 龍王, 竜王, lit. "Dragon King") is an annual Japanese professional shogi tournament and the title of its winner. The current Ryūō title holder is Sōta Fujii. The Ryūō Tournament (''Ryūō-s ...

title.

Awards and honors

Sanada received the Japan Shogi Association

Annual Shogi Award The Annual Shogi Awards (将棋大賞 ''shōgi taishō'') are a number of prizes awarded yearly by the Japan Shogi Association to professional and amateur shogi players who have achieved particular success. The first Annual Shogi Awards were pre ...

for "Best New Player" in 1997.

JSA director

Sanada served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors from 1999 until 2003. He was elected for his first two-year term as a

at the association's 50th General Meeting in May 1999, and then re-elected to a second two-year term at the association's 52nd General Meeting in May 2001.

Personal life

Sanada's wife

Ayako Ayako is a feminine Japanese given name. Possible writings Ayako can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: * 文子, "writings, child" * 綾子, "twill, child" * 絢子, "kimono design, child" * 彩子, "coloring, child" * 順 ...

is a retired female shogi professional.

References

External links

*ShogiHub
Professional Player Info · Sanada, Keiichi
Japanese shogi players People from Yachiyo, Chiba Living people Professional shogi players Professional shogi players from Chiba Prefecture 1972 births {{Shogi-stub