By Galo S Mirth
2022 was a year where the top of professional shogi became more concentrated around a few elite titleholders, while the broader culture of the game stayed active through media coverage, fan events, and growing online spectatorship. The headline was Sota Fujii’s continued rise, but the year also included a major career milestone for Yoshiharu Habu and another busy season across the eight major title matches.
1) The 2022 title map at a glance
Across the eight major titles, 2022 showed both continuity and change. By the end of the year, the titleholder map was led by Fujii, with Takuya Nagase and Akira Watanabe also holding key crowns during the season.
- Ryuo (竜王): Sota Fujii
- Meijin (名人): Akira Watanabe
- Eiou (叡王): Sota Fujii
- Oui (王位): Sota Fujii
- Oza (王座): Takuya Nagase
- Kiou (棋王): Akira Watanabe
- Osho (王将): Sota Fujii
- Kisei (棋聖): Sota Fujii
Each title season had its own story, but in aggregate the competitive balance in 2022 clearly pointed toward Fujii’s multi-title dominance.
2) Fujii’s five-crown year became the defining story
The symbolic center of 2022 was Fujii’s defense in the 35th Ryuo match. With that result, he finished the year holding five major titles, strengthening the sense that professional shogi had entered a new era around one exceptionally strong young champion.
Beyond pure results, this mattered for fan culture as well. Title matches featuring Fujii consistently drew broad attention outside the traditional shogi audience, helping keep shogi visible in general news and online discussion.
3) Another historic milestone for Yoshiharu Habu
In June 2022, Yoshiharu Habu reached 1,500 official-game wins, one of the major cumulative milestones in modern shogi. Even in a year dominated by younger titleholders, this record reinforced continuity between generations and highlighted the long arc of elite careers in the professional system.
4) Why 2022 matters in hindsight
Looking back, 2022 stands out less for one upset and more for structural change. The title ecosystem became more concentrated, media interest in top matches remained high, and the contrast between veteran longevity and new-era dominance became especially clear. In that sense, 2022 was a transition year that set up many of the storylines that continued in 2023 and beyond.
