Masataka Gōda


Masataka Gōda is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former major title holder, having won the Ōi, Kisei, Kiō and Ōshō titles throughout his career.

Early life and apprenticeship

Gōda was born on March 17, 1971, in Suginami, Tokyo. He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was three years old.
In December 1982, he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under guidance of shogi professional. He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 1-dan in May 1985, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in February 1990.

Shogi professional

Gōda's first appearance in a major title match came in May 1992 when he challenged Kōji Tanigawa for the [Kisei (shogi)|60th Kisei (shogi)|Kisei title]. Although Goda lost the match 3 games to 1, he was at the time only the second 4-dan to be the challenger for a major title. Later in September of that same year, Gōda and Tanigawa met once again in the 33rd Ōi title match, with Gōda winning the match 4 games to 2 to become the first 4-dan to win a major title. In December 1992, Gōda met Tanigawa for the third time in the 61st Kisei title match, with Tanigawa winning by the score of 3 games to 0, with one game ending in impasse.
Gōda won his next major title in 1998, defeating Nobuyuki Yashiki 3 games to 0 to win the 69th Kisei title. He was unable to retain the title the following year, losing to 3 games to none. In 2001, he regained the Kisei title by narrowly defeating Yoshiharu Habu by 3 games to 2. However, the following year he was again unable to defend his title, losing to Yasumitsu Satō by the same score of 3 games to 2.
In 2011, Gōda won the 37th Kiō title by defeating Toshiaki Kubo 3 games to 1. He was unable to successfully defend his Kiō title the next year, losing to Akira Watanabe 3 games to 1.
In 2014, Gōda won the [Ōshō (shogi)|64th Ōshō (shogi)|Ōshō title] by defeating 4 games to 3. At 44 years old, he became the oldest first-time winner of the Ōshō title. The following year, 23 years after winning his first major title, he completed his first successful major title defense by defeating 4 games to 2. However, in 2016, Gōda was defeated by 4 games to 2 and lost his Ōshō title.
Gōda defeated on October 3, 2007, to become the 36th shogi professional to win 600 official games, defeated Masayuki Toyoshima on October 17, 2015, to become the 18th shogi professional to win 800 official games, and defeated Makoto Tobe on July 9, 2025, to become the 13th professional to win 1000 official games.

Promotion history

Gōda's promotion history is as follows:

Titles and other championships

Gōda has appeared in major title matches a total of eighteen times, and has won six major titles. In addition to major titles, Gōda has won seven other shogi championships during his career.

Other championships

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

Awards and honors

Gōda has received a number of awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board. These include awards given out annually by the JSA for performance in official games as well as other JSA awards for career accomplishments, and awards received from governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.

Annual shogi awards

  • 20th Annual Awards : Best New Player, Distinguished Service Award
  • 22nd Annual Awards : Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Distinguished Service Award
  • 23rd Annual Awards : Distinguished Service Award
  • 25th Annual Awards : Best Winning Percentage, Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Fighting-spirit Award
  • 26th Annual Awards : Fighting-spirit Award
  • 29th Annual Awards : Distinguished Service Award
  • 39th Annual Awards : Fighting-spirit Award
  • 41st Annual Awards : Fighting-spirit Award
  • 42nd Annual Awards : Fighting-spirit Award

Other awards

  • 2007: Shogi Honor Award
  • 2015: 25 Years Service Award, Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award

Year-end shogi prize money and game fee ranking

Gōda has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's eighteen times since 1993.
YearAmountRank
1993¥19,700,0009th
1994¥19,720,0009th
1995¥19,800,0008th
1998¥40,780,0004th
1999¥38,010,0006th
2000¥20,860,0009th
2001¥37,740,0006th
2002¥28,510,0007th
2006¥21,590,0009th
2007¥29,940,0006th
2008¥19,940,00010th
2009¥26,320,0008th
2011¥16,790,00010th
2012¥25,970,0003rd
2013¥34,530,0004th
2014¥23,400,0004th
2015¥24,670,0007th
2016¥31,850,0006th