{{Short description|Japanese shogi player}} {{Infobox shogi professional |name = Saito Morimoto |native_name = 森本才跳 |born = {{birth date and age|2001|05|31|mf=yes}} |hometown = Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, Japan |nationality = |pro_date = {{event date and age |2023|04|01|2001|05|31}} |badge_no = 337 |teacher = Kenji Kobayashi |rank = 4-dan |teacher_rank = 9-dan |meijinclass = C2 |tournaments = |ryuoclass = 6 |jsa = 337 }} {{nihongo|'''Saito Morimoto'''|森本 才跳|Morimoto Saito|May 31, 2001}} is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 4-dan.
==Early life and amateur shogi== Morimoto was born in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, on May 31, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/337.html|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 森本才跳|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Morimoto Saito|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Saito Morimoto|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 11, 2025}}</ref> He started playing shogi on the recommendation of his parents.<ref name="New4d">{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2023/03/post_2265.html|script-title=ja:新四段誕生のお知らせ|title=Shinyondan Tanjō no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=Announcing the new 4-dans|date=March 11, 2023|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 11, 2025}}</ref> He began regularly playing at the shogi club at the Japan Shogi Association's Kansai Branch Office. As a second-grade elementary school student at {{ill|Hiraki Elementary School|ja|西宮市立平木小学校}} in Nishinomiya, he started attending a shogi school run by shogi professional Kenji Kobayashi.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20231001/ddm/013/040/013000c|url-access=subscription|script-title=ja:将棋 C級2組 森本四段, 4回戦で初勝利 甲南高OB対決制す|title=Shōgi Shīkyū Nikumi Morimoto Yondan, Yonkaisen de Hatsushōri Kōnanko OB Taiketsu Sessu|language=ja|trans-title= Shogi's Class C2: Morimoto 4-dan defeats alumnus from same high school in Round 4 for his first victory|date=October 1, 2023|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref> As a third-grade elementary school student, he finished tied for 3rd place in the lower-grade division of the 9th {{ill|All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament|ja|将棋のアマチュア棋戦#小・中学生棋戦}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/event/2010/08/9_2.html|script-title=ja:第9回全国小学生倉敷王将戦の結果|title=Daikyūkai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen no Kekka|language=ja|trans-title=9th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament results|date=August 10, 2010|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and won the 24th {{nihongo|Tanigawa Cup Elementary Student Shogi Tournament|谷川杯争奪小学生将棋大会|Tanigawa-hai Sōdatsu Shōgakusei Shōgi Taikai}} in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kishi|first=Keiko|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20230705/ddl/k28/040/169000c|url-access=subscription|script-title=ja:谷川杯争奪小学生将棋大会 指導対局に森本四段|title=Tanigawa-hai Sōdatsu Shōgakusei Shōgi Taikai Shidō Taikyoku ni Morimoto Yondan|language=ja|trans-title=Morimoto 4-dan will play instructional games at the Elementary Student Tanigawa Cup Shogi Tournament|date=July 5, 2023|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref>The following year (2011) as a fourth-grade student, he tied for third place in the upper-grade division of the 10th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/event/2011/08/10_5.html|script-title=ja:第10回全国小学生倉敷王将戦の結果|title=Daijūkai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen no Kekka|language=ja|trans-title=10th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament results|date=August 13, 2011|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and finished in second place of the upper-grade division of a children's tournament held together with the 37th {{ill|JT Nihon Series|ja|JT将棋日本シリーズ}} preliminary round game being played in Fukuoka.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/tournament/tablemark_children/2011/index.html|script-title=ja:2011年度JT将棋日本シリーズこども大会 各地区大会決勝進出者一覧|title=Nisenjūichinendo JT Shōgi Nihon Shīrizu Kodomo Taikai Kaku Chiku Taikai Kesshō Shinshutsusha Ichiran|language=ja|trans-title=List of block tournament finalists for the 2011 JT Nihon Series Children's Tournament|year=2011|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref>
In 2012, Morimoto won the 37th {{ill|Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament|ja|小学生将棋名人戦}} as a fifth-grade student in April<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/event/2012/04/37_6.html|script-title=ja:第37回小学生将棋名人戦〈決勝大会〉開催報告|title=Daisanjūnanakai Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen (Kesshō Taikai) Kaisai Hōkoku|language=ja|trans-title=37th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament|date=April 17, 2012|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> and was then accepted into the {{abbrv|JSA|Japan Shogi Association}}'s apprentice school as a student of {{abbrv|Kobayashi|Kenji Kobayashi}} at the rank of apprentice professional 6-kyū in September.<ref name="New4d" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Nakashima|first=Takayuki|url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20230417-ZH7YTXP7Q5KSJMPJGAMVQ4AG4Y/|script-title=ja:将棋の昇段者免状授与式 混戦の三段リーグ突破の森本四段と柵木四段が抱負|title=Shōgi no Shōdansha Menjō Juyoshiki Konsen no Sandanrīgu Toppa no Morimoto Yondan to Masegi Yondan ga Hōfu|language=ja|trans-title=Shogi's promotion certificate award ceremony: new 4-dans Morimoto and Masegi discuss their hopes for the future after getting through the difficult 3-dan league|date=April 17, 2023|newspaper=Sankei Shimbun|access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref> He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 3-dan in April 2019, and he obtained regular professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2023 after finishing second in the 72nd 3-dan League (October 2022{{sndash}}March 2023) with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.<ref name="New4d" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/shoreikai/sandan/72/index.html|script-title=ja:第72回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2022年10月～2023年3月|title=Dai Nanajūnikai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisennijūninen Jūgatsu kara Nisennijūsannen Sangatsu|language=ja|trans-title=74th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2022 to March 2023|year=2023|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Seto|first=Kanon|url=https://hochi.news/articles/20230311-OHT1T51270.html?page=1|script-title=ja:将棋･三段リーグ 小山直希三段, 森本才跳三段, 柵木幹太三段がプロ入り|title=Shōgi･Sandanrīgu Koyama Naoki Sandan, Morimoto Saito Sandan, Masegi Kanta Sandan ga Puro Iri|language=ja|trans-title=Shogi's #-dan League: Naoki Koyama 3-dan, Saito Morimoto 3-dan and Kanta Masegi 3-dan obtain regular professional status|date=March 11, 2023|newspaper=Sports Hochi|access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref>
==Shogi professional== ===Promotion history=== The promotion history for Morimoto is as follows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/337.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 森本才跳 昇段履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Morimoto Saito Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Saito Morimoto Promotion History|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 11, 2025}}</ref>
*6-kyū: September 2012 *3-dan: April 2019 *4-dan: April 1, 2023
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *Bunshun Online [https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/70068 interview of Naoki Koyama, Saito Morimoto and Kanta Masegi by Shūji Sagasaki] in April 2023. {{lang in|ja}}
{{Professional Shogi Players|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morimoto, Saito}}
Category:Living people Category:2001 births Category:Japanese shogi players Category:Japan Shogi Association players Category:Shogi players from Hyōgo Prefecture