{{Short description|Japanese Shogi player}} {{Infobox shogi professional |name = Kenji Waki |native_name = 脇謙二 |image = File:20181111 Kenji Waki.jpg |image_size = |caption = Kenji Waki in Himeji, Japan (November 11, 2018) |born = {{birth date and age|1960|8|10|mf=yes}} |hometown = Osaka |pro_date = {{event date and age|1979|07|16|1960|08|10}} |retirementdate = {{event date and age|2026|05|01|1960|08|10}} |wins = 661 |losses = 754 |badge_no = 138 |teacher = {{ill|Kazukiyo Takashima|ja|高島一岐代}} |rank = 9-dan |teacher_rank = 9-dan |tournaments = 3 |jsa = 138 }}

{{nihongo|'''Kenji Waki'''|脇 謙二|Waki Kenji|born August 10, 1960}} is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 9-dan. He is also the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association, and has been as such since June 2019.

==Early life and apprenticeship== Waki was born on August 10, 1960, in Osaka, Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/138.html|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 脇謙二|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> He learned shogi at a shogi class taught by shogi professional {{ill|Kazukiyo Takashima|ja|高島一岐代}}, and in 1975 he was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under the guidance of Takashima at the rank of 5-kyū. He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1977, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 1978.<ref name="2014yearbook">{{cite magazine|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7UEcBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA556|script-title=ja:棋士名鑑: 八段 脇 謙二|title=Kishi Meikan: Hachidan Waki Kenji|language=ja|trans-title=Player Directory: Kenji Waki 8-dan|magazine=平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition)|page=556|year=2014|publisher=MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association|via=Google Books|isbn=978-4-8399-5175-7|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name="2016databook">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWVDCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA69|script-title=ja:現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行|title=Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō|language=ja|trans-title=2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"|year=2015|page=69|publisher=MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association|via=Google Books|asin=B019SSNKVA|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

==Shogi professional== Waki became the 48th professional to win 600 official games when he defeated Masahiko Urano on February 3, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2015/02/_600_2.html|script-title=ja:脇謙二八段, 600勝(将棋栄誉賞)を達成|title=Waki Kenji Hachidan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tasei|language=ja|trans-title=Kenji Waki 8d reaches 600 wins (awarded "Shogi Honor Award")|date=February 4, 2015|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

In March 2019, Waki voluntarily declared himself as a ''free class'' player, thus leaving the Meijin tournament league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2019/04/2019.html|script-title=ja:2019年度からのフリークラス転出者|title=Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsusha|language=ja|trans-title=Players moving to free class from April 2019|date=April 3, 2019|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=http://www.sankei.com/life/news/170331/lif1703310060-n1.html|script-title=ja:2019年度からのフリークラス転出を...|title=Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsu wo ...|language=ja|trans-title=Moving to free class from April 2019|date=April 5, 2019|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S13988478.html|script-title=ja:脇と泉がフリークラスに|title=Waki to Izumi ga Furīkurasu ni|language=ja|trans-title=Waki and Izumi to free class|date=April 22, 2019|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref>

On April 1, 2026, the {{abbrv|JSA|Japan Shogi Association}} announced Waki had met the conditions for mandatory retirement for "Free Class" players and his retirement would become official upon completion of his final scheduled game of the 2026{{ndash}}2027 shogi season.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2026/04/post_2616.html|script-title=ja:昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ|title=Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjō Kishi no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title= Player promotions, retirements and leaves of absence|date=April 1, 2026|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref> Waki's retirement became official upon losing to Takanori An'yōji on May 1, 2026, in a 39th Ryūō Group 6 game.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2026/05/post_2624.html|script-title=ja:脇謙二九段が引退|title=Waki Kenji Kudan ga Intai|language=ja|trans-title=Kenji Waki 9-dan retires|date=May 7, 2026|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref><ref name="NS">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/202605010001306.html|script-title=ja:65歳･脇謙二九段が引退 藤井ブーム追い風に連盟役員として将棋界発展に尽力|title=Rokujūgosai･Waki Kenji Kudan ga Intai Fujii Būmu Oikaze ni Renmei Yakuin to Shite Shōgikai Hatten ni Jinryoku|language=ja|trans-title=65-year-old Kenji Waki 9-dan retires; as an officer of the JSA, he worked hard to promote shogi during the Fujii boom years.|date=June 1, 2026|newspaper=Nikkan Sports|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref> He finished his career with a record of 661 wins and 754 losses for a winning percentage of 0.467.<ref name="WL">{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/game/record/all.html|url-status=unfit|script-title=ja:通算成績|title=Tsūsan Seiseki|language=ja|trans-title=Career Records|date=May 6, 2026|website=Japan Shogi Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260507094814/https://www.shogi.or.jp/game/record/all.html|archive-date=May 7, 2026|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref><ref name="NS" />

===Theoretical contributions=== Waki is known for his innovations in the Yagura opening, and the Waki System is named after him.<ref name="2016databook" /><ref name="NS" />

===Promotion history=== The promotion history for Waki is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/138.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 脇謙二 昇段履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Promotion History|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 8, 2026}}</ref> * 5-kyū: 1975 * 1-dan: 1977 * 4-dan: July 16, 1979 * 5-dan: April 1, 1983 * 6-dan: April 1, 1984 * 7-dan: October 1, 1990 * 8-dan: November 16, 2000 * 9-dan: April 1, 2021 * Retired: June 1, 2026

===Titles and other championships=== Waki has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won three non-title championships during his career. He won the {{ill|Young Lions (shogi)|lt=Young Lions Tournament|ja|若獅子戦}} once (1983), and the {{ill|Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament|ja|早指し将棋選手権#早指し新鋭戦}} twice (1984 and 1985).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/138.html#anc02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 脇謙二 優勝履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Yūshō Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Championship History|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref>

===Awards and honors=== Waki received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years in 2004, and the "Shogi Honor Award" in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/138.html#anc04|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 脇謙二 その他表彰|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Waki Kenji Eisaku Sonota Hyōshō|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Kenji Waki Other Awards|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref> He also received the Japan Shogi Association's “Masuda Special Prize” Annual Shogi Award for the 2019{{ndash}}2020 shogi year.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer; no by-line-->|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igoshougi/20200401-OYT1T50211/amp/%3Fusqp%3Dmq331AQRKAGYAajT-anjx57LggGwASA%253D|script-title=ja:将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目|title=Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime|language=ja|trans-title=Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins “Player of the year” for the second time.|date=April 1, 2020|newspaper=Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106181900/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igoshougi/20200401-OYT1T50211/amp/%3Fusqp=mq331AQRKAGYAajT-anjx57LggGwASA%253D|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==JSA director== Waki was selected to be the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors for a two-year term at the association's 70th General Meeting on June 7, 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2019/06/70_7.html|script-title=ja:日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ|title=Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members|date=June 7, 2019|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 10, 2019}}</ref> and re-elected to additional two-year terms in June 2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2021/06/72_13.html|script-title=ja:第72回通常総会ご報告|title=Dai Nanajūnikai Tsūjō Sōkai Gohōkoku|language=ja|trans-title=Report on 72nd General Meeting|date=June 4, 2021|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref> June 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2023/06/post_2309.html|script-title=ja:日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ|title=Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members|date=June 9, 2023|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref> and June 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2025/06/post_2536.html|script-title=ja:日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ|title=Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members|date=June 6, 2025|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 7, 2025}}</ref>

Waki stated he intended to finish out the remainder of his two-year term as JSA managing director (until June 2027) even though he retired from active play in May 2026.<ref name= "NS" />

==Personal life== Waki is married to professional Go player Masako Araki.<ref name="2016databook" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *ShogiHub: [http://shogihub.com/players/33 Professional Player Info · Waki, Kenji] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020849/http://shogihub.com/players/33 |date=2017-11-07 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waki, Kenji}} Category:Japanese shogi players Category:Japan Shogi Association players Category:Living people Category:Sportspeople from Osaka Category:Shogi players from Osaka Prefecture Category:1960 births