[Shogi] 37th Ryuo Inauguration Ceremony: Ryuo Sota Fujii and actor Kentaro Sakaguchi deliver congratulatory speech

2025.02.02

In the seven-game match for the 37th Ryuo title, the highest ranking title in shogi, held from October to November last year, Ryuo Sota Fujii defeated challenger 8-dan Sasaki Yuki with a score of 4 wins and 2 losses, achieving his fourth consecutive victory as Ryuo and bringing his total title wins to 26. The "Ryuo Inauguration Ceremony" to celebrate Fujii's coronation as the 37th Ryuo was held on Wednesday, January 29th at the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo. At the ceremony, the winner received a prize of 44 million yen, the Ryuo Cup, and a commemorative haori coat."Sunflowers on the Board"Actor Kentaro Sakaguchi, who plays the role of genius shogi player Kamijo Keisuke in the series, also appeared on stage.

■Ryuuou Sota Fujii

I am extremely pleased to have achieved my fourth consecutive victory in this season's Ryuo Championship. This series was extremely challenging, with 8th-dan Sasaki Yuki's advance research extremely challenging, and he prepared many unknown strategies from the first game onwards. Some of these strategies were unexpected, forcing me to think of new moves on the board every time. There were clear areas where I was able to demonstrate my strengths, and conversely, areas where my weaknesses were exposed, which was a learning experience. On the other hand, in the endgame, I was able to persistently play defensively despite being caught off guard, and I felt like I was able to break through with some new moves. I hope to use the fact that I was able to play calmly under the pressure of defending my title in the future.

Next season, I will be aiming for my fifth consecutive Ryuo title, and if I achieve this, I will become the third person to qualify for the title of "Eternal Ryuo" after 9-dan players Akira Watanabe and Yoshiharu Habu. However, I feel that it will not be an easy road. I will continue to play each game carefully and overcome new challenges to aim for a higher level. I will continue to work even harder to liven up the shogi world.

■ Guest congratulatory speech: Actor Kentaro Sakaguchi

Congratulations to Ryuo Fujii Sota on your fourth consecutive victory."Sunflowers on the Board""When I was playing the role of a genius shogi player, I watched the games and actions of Ryuo Fujii and other active shogi players, and was overwhelmed by the solemnity and passion of the action. When you actually play shogi, you realize that it is much deeper than you would imagine, and you can feel the great passion that goes into each and every move on the board.
This year's Ryuo tournament was a truly epic "story" of concentration and inquisitiveness colliding, and as a fan, it really warmed my heart. I hope that through the film, even more people will be able to experience the charm of shogi. I look forward to the future development of the shogi world and the further success of the players.

Title: Movie"Sunflowers on the Board"
Release: Nationwide release on Friday, October 31st
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment/Shochiku
Copyright: ©2025 "Sunflowers on the Board" Film Production Committee
Director and screenwriter: Kumazawa Naoto
Original work: Yuzutsuki Yuko "Sunflowers on the Board" (Chuokoron-Shinsha)
Starring: Kentaro Sakaguchi and Ken Watanabe

■Greetings from those involved

・Yoshiharu Habu, Chairman of the Japan Shogi Association

Congratulations to Ryuo Fujii Souta on his fourth consecutive victory. This season's best-of-seven series featured the challenge of 8th-dan Sasaki Yuki. Sasaki is a rival opponent who handed Ryuo Fujii his first loss immediately after his 29-game winning streak, making it extremely significant that the two players met on the grandest stage. The most cutting-edge shogi was played out over the course of two days, and the fast-paced progression of Game 6 in particular was astounding. Even in such circumstances, Ryuo Fujii's ability to maintain a lead throughout the game and achieve his fourth consecutive victory is an incredible feat, even when viewed from a data perspective. All players are extremely grateful for the cooperation of local residents at various venues, which allowed the tournament to proceed smoothly. Next season, with the title of Eternal Ryuo at stake, this series is sure to be even more anticipated. We hope to continue to promote the Ryuo Tournament together with all shogi fans.

・Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters President and CEO Akitoshi Muraoka
Thank you very much for attending the 37th Ryuo Championship. In this series, which determined the highest title in the world of shogi, Ryuo Sota Fujii achieved his fourth consecutive victory with a stunning victory in a best-of-seven series against challenger Yuki Sasaki (8-dan). It's said that defending a title is more difficult than challenging for one, but his 4-2 victory after a heated battle to the very end is truly impressive. Sasaki (8-dan) is known as a formidable opponent who thwarted Fujii's 30-game winning streak since his debut. He thoroughly studied Sasaki's opponent before his first title challenge, and delivered a match worthy of the highest level. Furthermore, Fujii has already defended seven of the eight major titles, and he has maintained his Ryuo title this season. If he wins the Ryuo Championship next season, he will qualify for the title of Eternal Ryuo, becoming only the third player in history to achieve this title, following Akira Watanabe (9-dan) and Yoshiharu Habu (9-dan). We look forward to his continued success in the future.

・Tomoyuki Teraguchi, Vice Chairman of Nomura Holdings, Inc.
Congratulations to Ryuo Fujii Souta and all the other winners in each group. This seven-game series was a thrilling series, with Ryuo Fujii and 8-dan Sasaki competing for points. The combination of both players' research and on-board ingenuity fully demonstrated the new appeal and depth of shogi. As our company, the Nomura Group, celebrates its 100th anniversary, we empathize with the Japan Shogi Association's history and its challenges for the future, and are extremely proud to support the Ryuo Tournament as a special sponsor. Fans' warm messages of support were also displayed in a congratulatory advertisement in the Yomiuri Shimbun morning edition and on message boards at the venue. We will continue to support the players and the entire shogi community as they strive for ever greater heights.

・Shibuya Ward Deputy Mayor Kaori Matsuzawa
As a local, I feel it is extremely significant that the opening game of the tournament was held in Shibuya. It is a great joy for us that a historic battle was born in Shibuya, the venue for the match. The fierce battle between Ryuo Fujii Sota and 8-dan Sasaki Yuki attracted much attention every day, and I believe it has once again contributed to the spread and development of shogi. Taking advantage of the fact that the Shogi Kaikan is located in Shibuya Ward, we would like to continue to hold various events and initiatives in the ward, such as last year's "Shogi Day in Shibuya." We are looking forward to a heated battle in the next Ryuo Tournament, where Ryuo Fujii will challenge for the title of Eternal Ryuo. Shibuya Ward will also support 8-dan Sasaki and all other shogi players, so that they can achieve further growth.

■Comments from the winners of each group

・1st group winner: Takayuki Yamazaki, 8th dan
Winning the first group, which is filled with top-class players, was truly a dream come true. I had previously seen my seniors receiving their medals at the Ryuo inauguration ceremony and had always wanted to stand on that stage myself, so it was truly moving to see that happen. I will continue to challenge myself and do my best so that I can make my dream come true once again.

・2nd group winner: Sasaki Yuki, 8th dan
The seven-game Ryuo title match, which I took on as a challenger, was a series that once again made me realize just how strong Ryuo Fujii is. The year in which I rose from the ranking matches to the final tournament and then to challenge for the title was also a valuable opportunity to "refine" my shogi, and I believe it has been a great source of inspiration for the future. I want to keep working hard, aiming for even greater heights and never forgetting my attitude of continuing to hone my skills.

・Group 3 Winner: Tenshi Ikenaga 6th Dan
The Ryuo tournament is a good fit for me, and I was able to steadily improve by being promoted consecutively. In fact, there is a rule that if you advance to Group 2, you will be promoted, but perhaps it was good that I didn't think about it too much and just played with an open mind. I will use this season's victory as motivation to aim for an even higher ranking in Group 2 next time, and will push forward with the determination to challenge strong opponents.

・4th group winner: Satoshi Takano, 6th dan
This was my second class victory in four years, and the time I spent competing in the final tournament was truly fulfilling. I also played some games at the old Kansai Shogi Hall, so looking back, it was a very memorable experience. There were far fewer players in Group 3, so each game carries weight, but I want to use the experience I gained this time to do my best and aim for even higher goals.

・5th group winner: Kazufumi Watanabe, 7th dan
In the past, I have let my guard down the moment I was promoted, which left me feeling disappointed in the finals last time. This time, I think the fact that I remained focused until the very end led to my victory. The joy of receiving a medal at the awards ceremony was exceptional, and I will use this as encouragement to continue working hard to perform even better in the future.

・Group 6 Winner: Nagisa Fujimoto 5th Dan
As the youngest player in this season's ranking matches, I faced a series of tough matches. The final was a heated battle between two young players, but I think my perseverance until the end led to my victory. I still have a lot of work to do, but I will continue to work hard so that I can compete at the next stage, and I hope to continue to become a player who can continue to win.

Interviewed by Takafumi Yoshida, a fourth-year student at the University of Tokyo, on January 29, 2025, in the Student Newspaper Online