TV-Series
Description
Masachika Kouda is a professional shogi player holding the rank of eighth dan. He serves as Rei Kiriyama’s first shogi teacher and later becomes his adoptive father. His connection with Rei begins through his friendship and rivalry with Rei’s biological father during their time together in the shogi training group. After Rei’s parents died, Masachika took Rei into his home and taught him shogi, treating the boy much like his own children.
Masachika is a serious and demanding figure, especially when it comes to shogi. He applies this strictness not only to his students but also to his biological children, Kyouko and Ayumu. However, his intense focus on the game and his high expectations create deep rifts within his family. Kyouko grows resentful, rarely visits, and repeatedly hurt Rei because of her own complicated feelings about her father’s attention being split. Ayumu withdraws from the household and becomes a recluse. Masachika carries a heavy sense of guilt over these outcomes; he recognizes that his own choices and rigidity contributed to his children’s pain, yet he does not know how to repair those relationships.
Despite his severity, Masachika genuinely cares for Rei. He provides shelter, guidance, and a path into the shogi world, which becomes Rei’s primary source of stability and self‑worth. As a mentor, Masachika is skilled and experienced, able to recognize and cultivate Rei’s talent. His own playing style and tactical knowledge influence Rei’s development as a competitor.
Over the course of the story, Masachika does not undergo a dramatic transformation, but he becomes more aware of the emotional cost of his single‑minded dedication to shogi. He struggles with the fractures in his family, showing moments of quiet regret that contrast with his outwardly controlled demeanor. In terms of abilities, Masachika is a respected professional player, capable of holding his own in high‑level tournaments and serving as a credible rival to other top‑tier shogi masters. His greatest contribution, however, lies in the foundation he gave Rei, even as his own household remains strained.
Masachika is a serious and demanding figure, especially when it comes to shogi. He applies this strictness not only to his students but also to his biological children, Kyouko and Ayumu. However, his intense focus on the game and his high expectations create deep rifts within his family. Kyouko grows resentful, rarely visits, and repeatedly hurt Rei because of her own complicated feelings about her father’s attention being split. Ayumu withdraws from the household and becomes a recluse. Masachika carries a heavy sense of guilt over these outcomes; he recognizes that his own choices and rigidity contributed to his children’s pain, yet he does not know how to repair those relationships.
Despite his severity, Masachika genuinely cares for Rei. He provides shelter, guidance, and a path into the shogi world, which becomes Rei’s primary source of stability and self‑worth. As a mentor, Masachika is skilled and experienced, able to recognize and cultivate Rei’s talent. His own playing style and tactical knowledge influence Rei’s development as a competitor.
Over the course of the story, Masachika does not undergo a dramatic transformation, but he becomes more aware of the emotional cost of his single‑minded dedication to shogi. He struggles with the fractures in his family, showing moments of quiet regret that contrast with his outwardly controlled demeanor. In terms of abilities, Masachika is a respected professional player, capable of holding his own in high‑level tournaments and serving as a credible rival to other top‑tier shogi masters. His greatest contribution, however, lies in the foundation he gave Rei, even as his own household remains strained.