81diver
81diver is a Japanese shogi-themed manga series written and illustrated by. It was serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine Weekly Young Jump from September 2006 to July 2014, with its chapters collected in 35 volumes. The story follows Kentarō Sugata, a shogi player who, after failing to go pro, is inspired to take the game seriously again following a defeat by Soyo Nakashizu, a champion with a surprising side job.
An 11-episode television drama adaptation was broadcast on Fuji TV from May to July 2008. It starred Junpei Mizobata as Kentarō Sugata and Riisa Naka as Soyo Nakashizu. The title refers to the main character's shogi nickname, which comes from the words of his former teacher who once told him to dive into the 9 by 9 squares of the shogi board.
Plot
Kentarō Sugata failed at entering the professional league of shogi board game competition. However, he continues to play the game for a living by gambling at amateur shogi clubs. His encounter and defeat by the shogi player named Soyo Nakashizu, known as "Akihabara's champion", shocks him and, combined with his financial crisis, reinvigorates him to take shogi more seriously. He also finds out by chance that Soyo offers a part-time maid cosplay house cleaning service, another side of her which further intrigues him.Characters
; Kentarō Sugata; Soyo Nakashizu
; Nikogami
; Jirō Monjiyama
; Shito Kirino
; Kuru Kirino
; Kuma Sumino
; Chiko Chidori