Kamiki Ryuunosuke awarded with amateur rank by Japan Shogi Association

Kamiki Ryuunosuke attended the prize giving ceremony for the 5th J:COM Cup Sangatsu no Lion Kodomo Shogi Taikai on 24 September as a presenter as he is playing the lead character who is a 17-year-old professional shogi player in the two-part movie adaptation of manga "Sangatsu no Lion" by Umino Chika. The movies will be shown in cinemas from 18 March and 22 April 2017.

Kamiki presented the champion's title to Ito Seigo, a second year junior high student from Saitama who had emerged victorious among 1,300 primary and junior high students taking part in the competition. In addition, Ito also earned the right for the sound of his shogi playing to be recorded and used in the scenes where Kamiki's character is playing shogi.

During the ceremony, Kamiki was presented with the amateur rank by the Japan Shogi Association for his shogi skills which had greatly improved as a result of the filming. As he was not informed of this beforehand, Kamiki was surprised by the gesture and felt happy but pressurised by the award. The president of the association Tanigawa Koji revealed that the shogi players who had coached Kamiki before the filming praised him for his skills and high level of concentration and that he had managed to defeat professional players with an advantage given. With the recommendation of his coaches, it was then decided that Kamiki be awarded with this rank. Tanigawa also expressed hope to see Kamiki continue playing shogi even after the filming ends. Kamiki commented that he had to start playing shogi from scratch which was very tough but he was very happy that his hard work was recognised through the award and pledged to continue learning more about shogi in future.

Sources: Oricon / Nikkansports / Sanspo