By Galo S Mirth
2014 was a hinge year in professional shogi. Yoshiharu Habu regained the Meijin title in decisive fashion, while Tetsuro Itodani broke through at the end of the year to take the Ryuo and announce a generational shift.
1. The center of gravity moved back to Habu
The 72nd Meijin series set the tone. Habu challenged Toshiyuki Moriuchi and won 4-0, reclaiming Meijin after four years. That result reset the hierarchy at the top and framed the rest of the season.
Habu then defended multiple major titles during the same cycle, keeping pressure on all challengers across different match formats.
2. Multi-title stability through spring to autumn
Habu’s defenses in 2014 were notable for both volume and control:
- Kisei (85th): Habu 3-0 Moriuchi
- Oi (55th): Habu 4-2 Kazuki Kimura
- Oza (62nd): Habu 3-2 Masayuki Toyoshima
This stretch reflected a familiar pattern from peak Habu eras: not one isolated title win, but sustained match success over the full calendar.
3. The late-year shock: Itodani captures the Ryuo
The 27th Ryuo was the season’s clearest turning point. Itodani challenged Moriuchi and won 4-1, earning his first major title in his first Ryuo title match.
That breakthrough mattered beyond one trophy. It signaled that the next wave was ready to convert league and ranking strength into top-title results.
4. Watanabe and Goda kept the board competitive
Akira Watanabe remained central by defending the 40th Kio (3-0 vs Habu), preserving his place among the strongest title match players.
At the same time, Masataka Goda took the 64th Osho from Watanabe (4-3), adding further evidence that 2014 was not a one-player season even with Habu’s dominance in several lines.
5. Awards and season meaning
The 42nd Shogi Awards captured the balance of continuity and change. Habu received the top annual player honor, while Itodani was recognized for his rise.
In hindsight, 2014 reads as a two-part year: Habu reasserted elite control, then Itodani’s Ryuo win opened the door to a new title-era conversation.
Closing thought
If 2013 looked concentrated among familiar champions, 2014 looked transitional inside that concentration. The established leaders still won often, but the year ended with a clear sign that the top tier was about to expand.
Sources (Japanese)
- Wikipedia（日本語）: 2014年度の将棋界: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014年度の将棋界
- 日本将棋連盟: 第72期名人戦・順位戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/junni/72/meijin.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第85期棋聖戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/kisei/85/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第55期王位戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/oui/55/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第62期王座戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ouza/62/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第27期竜王戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ryuuou/27/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第64期王将戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/oushou/64/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 第40期棋王戦: https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/kiou/40/hon.html
- 日本将棋連盟: 将棋大賞受賞者一覧: https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/winner.html