Kiyozumi Kiriyama

is a Japanese retired professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former Kisei and Kiō major title holder as well as a former director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Early life and apprenticeship Kiriyama was born on October 17, 1947, in Shimoichi, Nara. He learned how to play shogi when he was about five years old, and as a young boy played some instructional games against Kōzō Masuda during Masuda's frequent visits to the Nara area. In 1957, at the age of nine, Kiriyama moved to Tokyo to study shogi under Masuda as an uchi-deshi (a "live-in apprentice") but became homesick and returned home after only a few months.

Kiriyama never lost his passion for shogi, however, and the following year he entered the Kansai branch of the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 7-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional . He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1963 and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 1966.

Shogi professional Promotion history Kiriyama's promotion history is as follows: In addition to major titles, he has won seven other shogi championships during his career.

Major titles Title Years Number of times overall Kisei 198687 3 Kiō 1984 1

Other championships Tournament Years Number of times*19681Ōza 1972 1*1976, 19832*19791*19821*19871 Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Awards and honors Kiriyama has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments in both on an off the shogi board. These include the Annual Shogi Awards given out by the JSA for performance in official games and other awards given out by governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.

Annual shogi awards 2nd Annual Awards (April 1974March 1975): Best Winning Percentage 3rd Annual Awards (April 1975March 1976): Distinguished Service Award 8th Annual Awards (April 1980March 1981): Fighting-spirit 10th Annual Awards (April 1982March 1983): Fighting-spirit 11th Annual Awards (April 1983March 1984): Most Games Won, Technique Award 12th Annual Awards (April 1984March 1985): Distinguished Service Award

Other awards 1988: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional) 1990: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years) 2000: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional) 2005: 40 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for forty years)

Retirement Kiriyama retired on April 27, 2022, at age 74. He finished with a career record of 996 wins and 958 losses.

JSA director Kiriyama served on the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors as a director from 1976 until 1978.