13 Facts About Torahiko Tanaka

Torahiko Tanaka is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan.

Torahiko Tanaka is a former Kisei title holder and a former senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Torahiko Tanaka was promoted to the 1-dan in May 1974, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in June 1976.

Torahiko Tanaka won the 1st Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament, the 5th All Star Kachinuki-sen, the 34th NHK Cup, the 17th Japan Shogi Association Cup and the 20th Quick Play Tournament.

Torahiko Tanaka finished his career with a record of 794 wins and 783 losses.

Torahiko Tanaka earned the nickname "Edison of the opening", in reference to inventor Thomas Edison, for his innovations in the opening part of the game.

Torahiko Tanaka helped popularize the Bear-in-the-hole castle as a castle for Counter-Ranging Rook Static Rook positions.

The diagram below shows Torahiko Tanaka using Static Rook position with an Incomplete Bear-in-the-hole castle in an October 1976 professional match.

Torahiko Tanaka appeared in major title matches twice and has won one title.

Torahiko Tanaka received the association's "Shogi Honor Award" in 2000 in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional and the "25 Years Service Award" in 2001 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years.

Torahiko Tanaka served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors on multiple occasions.

Torahiko Tanaka was first elected as an executive director at the association's 56th General Meeting for a two-year term on May 26,2005, and then re-elected to the same position in May 2007 and May 2011.

Torahiko Tanaka was re-elected as a director in December 2012, Tanaka was chosen to be the JSA's senior managing director to replace Koji Tanigawa after the latter was chosen to replace Kunio Yonenaga, who died earlier in the month, as president.