Haruko Saida

is a Japanese retired women's professional shogi player who acchieved the rank of 5-dan. She is a former Women's Meijin, and title holder. She is a non-executive director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Women's shogi professional

On April 1, 2025, the announced Saida had met the conditions for mandatory retirement for women's shogi professionals and her retirement would become official upon completion of her final scheduled game of the 20252026 shogi season. Saida's retirement became official upon losing to Mikoto Umezu on July 7, 2025, in a Class D ranking league game. She finished her career with a record of 486 wins and 382 losses for a winning percentage of 0.560. Saida also finished her career with a record of 9 wins and 28 losses for a winning percentage of 0.242 against regular shogi professionals. Women's Professional Apprentice League: 1984 3-kyū: April 1, 1986 1-kyū: April 1, 1987 1-dan: April 1, 1988 2-dan: March 20, 1991 3-dan: April 1, 1995 4-dan: February 27, 2001 5-dan: June 9, 2011 Retired: July 7, 2025

Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.

Titles and other championships Saida has appeared in major title matches twelve times and has won a total of four titles. In addition to major titles, Saida has won two other shogi championships.

Major titles Title Years Number of times overall 1994, 1997 2 Women's Meijin 2000 1 2006 1

Other championships Tournament Years Number of times* 2001, 20042 Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held or currently suspended.

Awards and honors Saida received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional" Annual Shogi Award for the April 2000March 2001 shogi year. She received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years in 2010.

JSA director At the 's 70th General Meeting held in June 2019, Saida was elected as a non-executive director to the association's board of directors. She was reelected to the same position in June 2021, June 2023 and June 2025.