How do professional shogi players upgrade their Dan?

Are you interested in professional shogi players? Those who have become professional professionals start with 4-Dan and raise their Dan with their achievement. The rules for Dan’s rise are written on the Japan Shogi Association website, but only in Japanese.

For this reason, I have translated the Dan promotion rules into English. If you are interested in professional shogi players, please refer to this story.

Promotion rules of the professional shogi players

I have written multiple requirements for each promotion, but if the professional shogi players meet one of these requirements, they will be promoted.

Requirements for becoming 9-Dan

・Win the Ryuou title twice.

・Win the Meijin title once.

・Win any titles three times.

・After becoming 8-Dan, win 250 times.

Requirements for becoming 8-Dan

・Win the Ryuou title once.

・Promote to Class A of the Ranking League.

・Win any titles twice.

・After becoming 7-Dan, win 190 times.

Requirements for becoming 7-Dan

・Challenge to the Ryuou title.

・Promote to Class 1 of the Ryuou League.

・Promote in the Ryuou League in consecutive years.

・Win the Ryuou League three times.

・Promote to Class B-1 of the Ranking League.

・Win any title once.

・After becoming 6-Dan, win the shogi championship that all of the professional shogi players join in.

・After becoming 6-Dan, win 150 times.

Requirements for becoming 6-Dan

・Promote to Class 2 of the Ryuou League.

・Promote in the Ryuou League in consecutive twice.

・Win the Ryuou League three times.

・Promote to Class B-2 of the Ranking League.

・After becoming 5-Dan, challenge any title.

・After becoming 5-Dan, win the shogi championship that all of the professional shogi players join in.

・After becoming 5-Dan, win 120 times.

Requirements for becoming 5-Dan

・Promote in the Ryuou League in consecutive twice.

・Win the Ryuou League three times.

・Promote to Class C-1 of the Ranking League.

・Win the shogi championship that all of the professional shogi players join in.

・Win 100 times.

Requirements for becoming 4-Dan

・Win or finish second in the 3-Dan league

・Finish in third-place in the 3-Dan league twice

See Also:

Shogi Rules — An overall explanation of Japanese Chess

International Shogi Promotion Activities — Shogi topics presented by professional and amateur…