Kiyozumi Kiriyama


Kiyozumi Kiriyama is a Japanese retired professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Kisei and Kiō major title holder as well as a former director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Early life and apprenticeship

Kiriyama was born on October 17, 1947, in Shimoichi, Nara. He learned how to play shogi when he was about five years old, and as a young boy played some instructional games against Kōzō Masuda during Masuda's frequent visits to the Nara area. In 1957, at the age of nine, Kiriyama moved to Tokyo to study shogi under Masuda as an uchi-deshi but became homesick and returned home after only a few months.
Kiriyama never lost his passion for shogi, however, and the following year he entered the Kansai branch of the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 7-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional. He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1963 and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 1966.

Shogi professional

Promotion history

Kiriyama's promotion history is as follows:
  • 7-kyū: 1958
  • 1-dan: 1963
  • 4-dan: April 1, 1966
  • 5-dan: April 1, 1969
  • 6-dan: April 1, 1970
  • 7-dan: April 1, 1973
  • 8-dan: April 1, 1975
  • 9-dan: October 9, 1984
  • Retired: April 27, 2022

    Titles and other championships

Kiriyama has appeared in major title matches a total of ten times and has won four titles. In addition to major titles, he has won seven other shogi championships during his career.

Major titles

Other championships

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

Awards and honors

Kiriyama 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.

Annual shogi awards

Kiriyama retired on April 27, 2022, at age 74. He finished with a career record of 996 wins and 958 losses.

JSA director

Kiriyama served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors as a director from 1976 until 1978.