{{Short description|Japanese shogi player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox shogi professional |name = Reo Okabe |native_name = 岡部怜央 |born = {{birth date and age|1999|04|08|mf=yes}} |hometown = Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan |nationality = |pro_date = {{event date and age|2022|04|01|1999|04|08}} |badge_no = 331 |teacher = {{ill|Jun'ichi Kase|ja|加瀬純一}} |rank = 6-dan |teacher_rank = 7-dan |meijinclass = C1 |ryuoclass = 6 |jsa = 331 }} {{nihongo|'''Reo Okabe'''|岡部 怜央|Okabe Reo|April 8, 1999}} is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
==Early life and apprenticeship== Okabe was born in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture on April 8, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/331.html|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 岡部怜央|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Okabe Reo|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Reo Okabe|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref><ref name="YS">{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.yamagata-np.jp/news/202203/13/kj_2022031300337.php|script-title=ja:鶴岡出身の岡部さん, 将棋のプロ棋士に 県内から13年ぶり4人目|title=Tsuruoka Shusshin no Oakabe-san, Shōgi no Puro Kishi ni Kennai kara Jūsannenburi Yonninme|language=ja|trans-title=New professional shogi player Okabe is from Tsuruoka; he is the first new professional from Yamagata Prefecture in 13 years and the fourth overall|date=March 13, 2022|newspaper=Yamagata Shimbun|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref> He learned how to play shogi from watching his older brother and grandfather play,<ref name="New4d" >{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2022/03/post_2102.html|script-title=ja:新四段誕生のお知らせ|title=Shin Yonden Tanjō no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=New 4-dans announced|date=March 12, 2022|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref> and eventually was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's (JSA) apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū as a student of shogi professional {{ill|Jun'ichi Kase|ja|加瀬純一}} in September 2011.<ref name="YS" /><ref name="New4d" />
Okabe was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 3-dan in 2016.<ref name="New4d" /> He obtained full professional status and the corresponding rank of 4-dan in April 2022 after tying for first with Kenshi Tokuda in the 70th 3-dan League (October 2021{{sndash}}March 2022) with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/shoreikai/sandan/70/index.html|script-title=ja:第70回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2021年10月～2022年3月|title=Dai Nanajūkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisennijūichinen Jūgatsu kara Nisennijūninen Sangatsu|language=ja|trans-title=70th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2021 to March 2022|year=2022|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20220312-LTH73XKV4ZJEVEOHLVEIFEEUJM/|script-title=ja:岡部と徳田, 4月からプロ棋士に 奨励会三段リーグ|title=Okabe to Tokuda, Shigatsu kara Puro Kishi ni Shōreikai Sandan Rīgu|language=ja|trans-title=Apprentice professional 3-dan league: Okabe and Tokuda will be professional shogi players from April|date=March 12, 2022|newspaper=Sankei Shimbun|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2022/03/12/kiji/20220312s000413F2555000c.html|script-title=ja:岡部怜央, 徳田拳士の両三段が15勝3敗の相星で四段昇段! 第70期奨励会三段リーグ|title=Okabe Reo, Tokuda Kenshi no Ryō Sandan Ga Jūgoshō Sanpai no Aiboshi de Yondan Shōdan! Dai Nanajūki Shōreikai Sandan Rīgu|language=ja|trans-title=70th Apprentice Professional 3-dan League: 3-dans Reo Okabe and Kenshi Tokuda finished tied at 15 wins and 3 losses to earn promotion to 4-dan!|date=March 12, 2022|newspaper=Sports Nippon|access-date=April 1, 2022}}</ref>
==Shogi professional== ===Promotion history=== The promotion history for Okabe is as follows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/331.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 岡部怜央 昇段履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Okabe Reo Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Reo Okabe Promotion History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref>
*6-kyū: September 2011 *3-dan: October 2016 *4-dan: April 1, 2022 *5-dan: March 11, 2025 *6-dan: March 3, 2026
===Awards and honors=== Okabe won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player", "Most Games Played", "Most Games Won" and "Most Consecutive Games Won"{{efn|Okabe and Nagisa Fujimoto each won 17 consecutive games to share the award.<ref name="52ASA">{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2024/04/51_6.html|script-title=ja:第52回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ|title=Dai Gojūnikai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=52nd Annual Shogi Award Winners|date=April 1, 2025|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 11, 2025}}</ref>}} for the April 2024{{sndash}}March 2025 shogi year.<ref name ="52ASA" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * ShogiHub: [http://shogihub.com/players/679 Professional Player Info · Reo Okabe]
{{Professional Shogi Players|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okabe, Reo}} Category:Living people Category:Japan Shogi Association players Category:1999 births Category:Japanese shogi players Category:Shogi players from Yamagata Prefecture