Yasuharu Ōyama

Yasuharu Ōyama (大山 康晴 Ōyama Yasuharu, March 13, 1923 - July 26, 1992^[1]) was a professional shogi player, 15th Lifetime Meijin^[1] and president of Japan Shogi Association (1976 - 1989).^[2] He studied shogi under Kinjiro Kimi ^[ja] (木見金治郎, Kinjirō Kimi).^[1] He won 80 titles (2nd on record), 44 other type tournaments (2nd on record) and 1433 games (2nd on record) in life, and was awarded five lifetime titles: Lifetime Meijin, Lifetime Jūdan, Lifetime Ōi, Lifetime Kisei and Lifetime Ōshō.^[1] Among his 80 titles, 18 were the Meijin title (most prestigious title in shogi, along with Ryūō). He has appeared in the Meijin title match 25 times winning 18; he also holds the record for the most consecutive Meijin titles (13 in a row from 1959 to 1971), the most overall Meijin titles, and being the oldest player to challenge for the Meijin title, at age 63 in 1986.^{[citation needed]}

Ōyama played as professional from 1940 until his death in 1992.

Ōyama had a strong interest in other kinds of boardgames, including go, mahjong, chess, chu shogi^[4] and xiangqi. He founded the Japan Xiangqi Association in 1973 and served as its president.^[5]

Honours

• Medal with Purple Ribbon (1979)
• Kikuchi Kan Prize (1987)
• Person of Cultural Merit (1990)
• Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd class, Gold and Silver Star (1992)
• Senior Fourth Rank (1992)

Gallery

• 
  Ōyama Meijin Memorial Hall in Kurashiki
• 
  Ōyama in 1935
• 
  Ōyama in 1939
• 
  Ōyama vs Tsukada 1948
• 
  Ōyama 1948
• 
  Ōyama in 1952
• 
  Ōyama (left) playing against Yoshio Kimura in 1952 with Prince Chichibu present
• 
  shogi position when Ōyama defeated Kimura in 1952 for the Meijin title
• 
  Ōyama & Takashima Kazukiyo in 1955

References