Kōichi Kodama

Kōichi Kodama was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture on February 21, 1951.^[2] As a high school student, he was a member of a Fukuoka Prefectural Yahata Chuo High School [ja] team that won the team competition of the 4th All Japan Senior High School Shogi Championship [ja] in 1968,^[3][4] and later went on to represent Fukuoka Prefecture in the Amateur Meijin Tournament [ja].^[4]

In October 1971, Kodama was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 3-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional Shimei Okazaki [ja].^[4] He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1974 and finally obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in January 1980.^[4]

Kodama's promotion history is as follows:^[5]

• 3-kyū: 1971
• 1-dan: 1974
• 4-dan: January 7, 1980
• 5-dan: April 1, 1983
• 6-dan: April 1, 1985
• 7-dan: January 18, 1996
• Retired: August 10, 2011^[6]
• 2016, April 1: 8-dan^[7]

Kodama received the following Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards during his career: the Kōzō Masuda Award for 2002–2003, and the "Special Game of the Year" for 2009–2010.^[8] His "Masuda Award" was for his development of the Crab Silvers opening.^[4]

Kodama also received the Japan Shogi Association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2004.^[9]