Nobuyuki Yashiki

Yashiki was born in Sapporo on January 18, 1972.[1] As a sixth-grade student, he finished third in the 8th Elementary Student Meijin Tournament in 1983, but won the 10th Junior High School Student Meijin Tournament two years later as a junior high school eight-grade student in 1985.[2] That same year, he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of Toyoichi Igarashi.[3] Yashiki obtained the rank of 1-dan in March 1987 and was awarded full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 1988.[3]

Yashiki's first appearance came in November 1989 when he challenged Makoto Nakahara for the 55th Kisei title. Although Yashiki lost the match 3 games to 2, he appearance made him at age 17 years 11 months the youngest player ever to challenge for a major title at that time[lower-alpha 1] as well as the fastest, a one year 2 months and eleven days, to do so after being promoted to 4-dan.[3][5][6]

Yashiki faced Nakahara once again in the 56th Kisei title match in June 1990. Nakahara won the first two games, but Yashiki came back to win the next three to take the title. Yashiki's victory made him at the age of 18 years 6 months the youngest player to ever win a major title match at that time.[7][lower-alpha 2] Yashiki also set the record for shortest time between turning professional and winning a major title at 1 year 10 months.[3][5][8] Later that same year in November, Yashiki successfully defended his title by beating Taku Morishita 3 games to 1 in the 57th Kisei title match, thus making him the youngest player to ever defend a major title.[5] However, Yashiki was unable to defend his title for a second consecutive time in the following June when he lost the 58th Kisei title match to Yoshikazu Minami 3 games to 1.[5]

In 1997, Yashiki defeated Masataka Gōda to advance to the 68th Kisei title match against Hiroyuki Miura.[9] Yashiki defeated Miura 3 games to 1 to recapture the Kisei title.[5] He was, however, unable to defend the title the following year, losing the 69th Kisei title to Gōda 3 games to 0.[5]

In 2001, Yashiki defeated Toshiyuki Moriuchi to advance to the 42nd Ōi match against Yoshiharu Habu, but was defeated 4 games to 0.[10]

Yashiki's promotion history is as follows:[11]

• 1985: 6-kyū
• 1987: 1-dan
• 1988, October 1: 4-dan
• 1990, April 1: 5-dan
• 1991, November 25: 6-dan
• 1996, March 8: 7-dan
• 2002, May 13: 8-dan
• 2004, April 1: 9-dan

Yashiki has appeared in major title matches seven times, and he is a three-time winner of the Kisei title.[12] In addition to major titles, Yashiki has won two other shogi championships during his career.[13]

Yashiki has won a number 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 awards for achievement, and other awards given out by governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.[14][15]

Yashiki has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money/game fee rankings three times since 1993: sixth in 1996 with JPY 27,890,000 in earnings, third in 1997 with JPY 35,550,000 in earnings, and fifth in 1998 with JPY 29,370,000 in earnings.[16]

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