Taichi Nakamura was born in Fuchū, Tokyo on June 1, 1988.[3] As a young boy, his family moved a lot due to his father's work.[4] He learned how to play shogi as a four year while living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, but first became interested in becoming a professional shogi player after hearing the news of Yoshiharu Habu becoming the first "7-crown" in professional shogi history.[4][5] After Nakamura's family moved back to Tokyo when he was a second-grade elementary school student,[4] he started practicing shogi at the well-known Hachioji Shogi Club where Habu also studied as a young boy.[5]
After graduating from high school in March 2007, Nakamura enrolled in Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics to continue his education in addition to being a shogi professional.[5][9][10] In March 2010, Nakamura wrote a thesis about political parties and unaffiliated voters in Japan which won him a scholarship from the School of Political Science and Economics.[11] Nakamura graduated from Waseda in 2011.[9]
Shogi professional
In 2009, Nakamura faced Akihito Hirose in the championship match of the 40th Shinjin-Ō [ja] tournament.[5] The match was billed as the "Battle of Waseda University Students" because the two were attending Waseda University at the time.[12] Nakamura lost the match 2 games to none.[13]
Nakamura's first appearance in a major title match came in 2012 when he challenged Yoshiharu Habu for the 83rd Kisei title. Nakamura lost the match 3 games to none.[14] In 2013, Nakamura defeated Masataka Gōda in the final of the challenger tournament of the 61st Ōza tournament to earn the right to challenge Habu for the title.[15] Nakamura was leading the match 2 games to 1 after three games, but Habu was able to defend his title by winning the last two games.[16]
In 2017, Nakamura advance to the 65th Ōza title match to once again challenge Habu for a major title. As in 2013, Nakamura was leading the match 2 games to 1, but this time won Game 4 to win the match 3 games to 1 and also capture his first major title.[17] Nakamura, however, was unable to defend his title in 2018, losing the 66th Ōza title match 3 games to 2 to Shintarō Saitō.[18]
Promotion history
The promotion history for Nakamura is as follows:[19]
Nakamura has appeared in major title matches a total of four times and has won once.[20]
Awards and honors
Nakamura received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Best Winning Percentage" in 2011, "Fighting-spirit" and "Most Consecutive Games Won" in 2012, and "Game of the Year" in 2013.[21]
^"Shinyondan no Shōkai" 新四段の紹介 [Introducing the new 4-dans] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 10, 2006. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2018.