Kenji Waki

Kenji Waki
Kenji Waki in Himeji, Japan (November 11, 2018)
Native name脇謙二
Born (1960-08-10) August 10, 1960
HometownOsaka
Career
Achieved professional statusJuly 16, 1979(1979-07-16) (aged 18)
Badge number138
Rank9-dan
RetiredMay 1, 2026(2026-05-01) (aged 65)
TeacherKazukiyo Takashima (9-dan)
Tournaments won3
Career record661–754 (.467)
Websites
JSA profile page

Kenji Waki (脇 謙二, Waki Kenji; born August 10, 1960) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association, and has been as such since June 2019.

Early life and apprenticeship

Waki was born on August 10, 1960, in Osaka, Japan.[1] He learned shogi at a shogi class taught by shogi professional Kazukiyo Takashima, 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]

Shogi professional

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]

On April 1, 2026, the JSA announced Waki had met the conditions for mandatory retirement for "Free Class" players and his retirement would become official upon completion of his final scheduled game of the 2026–2027 shogi season.[8] Waki's retirement became official upon losing to Takanori An'yōji on May 1, 2026, in a 39th Ryūō Group 6 game.[9][10] He finished his career with a record of 661 wins and 754 losses for a winning percentage of 0.467.[11][10]

Theoretical contributions

Waki is known for his innovations in the Yagura opening, and the Waki System is named after him.[3][10]

Promotion history

The promotion history for Waki is as follows:[12]

  • 5-kyū: 1975
  • 1-dan: 1977
  • 4-dan: July 16, 1979
  • 5-dan: April 1, 1983
  • 6-dan: April 1, 1984
  • 7-dan: October 1, 1990
  • 8-dan: November 16, 2000
  • 9-dan: April 1, 2021
  • Retired: June 1, 2026

Titles and other championships

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 once (1983), and the Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament twice (1984 and 1985).[13]

Awards and honors

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.[14] He also received the Japan Shogi Association's “Masuda Special Prize” Annual Shogi Award for the 2019–2020 shogi year.[15]

JSA director

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,[16] and re-elected to additional two-year terms in June 2021,[17] June 2023[18] and June 2025.[19]

Waki stated he intended to finish out the remainder of his two-year term as JSA managing director (until June 2027) even though he retired from active play in May 2026.[10]

Personal life

Waki is married to professional Go player Masako Araki.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Kishi Meikan: Hachidan Waki Kenji" 棋士名鑑: 八段 脇 謙二 [Player Directory: Kenji Waki 8-dan]. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition) (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 556. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved June 10, 2019 – via Google Books.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 69. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved June 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ "Waki Kenji Hachidan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tasei" 脇謙二八段, 600勝(将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Kenji Waki 8d reaches 600 wins (awarded "Shogi Honor Award")]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). February 4, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsusha" 2019年度からのフリークラス転出者 [Players moving to free class from April 2019]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsu wo ..." 2019年度からのフリークラス転出を... [Moving to free class from April 2019]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 5, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Waki to Izumi ga Furīkurasu ni" 脇と泉がフリークラスに [Waki and Izumi to free class]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjō Kishi no Oshirase" 昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ [Player promotions, retirements and leaves of absence]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). April 1, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Waki Kenji Kudan ga Intai" 脇謙二九段が引退 [Kenji Waki 9-dan retires]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Rokujūgosai･Waki Kenji Kudan ga Intai Fujii Būmu Oikaze ni Renmei Yakuin to Shite Shōgikai Hatten ni Jinryoku" 65歳･脇謙二九段が引退 藤井ブーム追い風に連盟役員として将棋界発展に尽力 [65-year-old Kenji Waki 9-dan retires; as an officer of the JSA, he worked hard to promote shogi during the Fujii boom years.]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 1, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tsūsan Seiseki" 通算成績 [Career Records]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). May 6, 2026. Archived from the original on May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Promotion History]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Championship History]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Eisaku Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 脇謙二 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Other Awards]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime" 将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目 [Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins “Player of the year” for the second time.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 1, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). June 7, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Dai Nanajūnikai Tsūjō Sōkai Gohōkoku" 第72回通常総会ご報告 [Report on 72nd General Meeting]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). June 4, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). June 6, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
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