Akira Inaba
is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.
Shogi professional
Inaba, together with Tetsurō Itodani, Masayuki Toyoshima and Akihiro Murata, is one of four Kansai-based young shogi professionals who are collectively referred to as the "Young Kansai Big Four".Promotion history
Inaba's promotion history is as follows:- 6-kyū: September 2000
- 4-dan: April 1, 2008
- 5-dan: March 8, 2011
- 6-dan: May 1, 2012
- 7-dan: August 16, 2013
- 8-dan: February 18, 2016
Titles and other championships
Inaba has appeared in a major title match only once: he was the challenger for the Meijin title in 2017. He earned the right to challenge Amahiko Satō for the title by winning the 2016-2017 Class A ranking tournament with a record of 8 wins and 1 loss, thus becoming the eighth player in history to win the right to challenge for the Meijin title in his first year in Class A.Inaba has won two non-major title championships: the 21st Ginga Tournament in 2013, and the 70th NHK Cup tournament in 2021.