TV-Series
Description
Okuyasu Yokomizo is a professional shogi player in March Comes in Like a Lion, holding the rank of 7-dan. He is a man in his thirties with a slender build and glasses. Within the professional ranking system he was originally placed in Class B group 1, though over the course of the story he falls to Class B group 2, a shift that illustrates the competitive pressure experienced even by established players in the shogi world.
Yokomizo is characterized as friendly, approachable, and highly skilled in communication. He is regularly shown socializing in a cheerful manner with other players, and he takes an encouraging interest in the protagonist, Rei Kiriyama. He offers supportive words when Rei wins and gives practical advice on how to interact with people when Rei takes part in his first shogi event, always engaging with him in a good-natured way. His sociable demeanor makes him a consistent and approachable figure within the professional shogi community.
A notable part of his role is his commitment to promoting shogi. He is active in outreach around the game and appears at nearly every shogi gathering featured in the story. He has a particular ability to teach shogi to beginners, and he knows how to give hints and structure games so that even spectators with little knowledge of the game can enjoy watching. This combination of playing strength and teaching skill allows him to act as a link between professional players and the wider public.
In the story, Yokomizo is frequently depicted alongside fellow professional players Tatsuyuki Misumi and Issa Matsumoto, and over time he interacts increasingly with Rei. Along with the veteran player Shimada, he also helps make arrangements that allow Rei to return in time for the latter half of his school culture festival, an event that becomes significant for Rei's personal life. Through these actions, Yokomizo functions as part of a network of senior players who support Rei's growth both as a shogi player and as a person.
His own development in the series is gradual rather than dramatic. He moves from being a background presence in the shogi hall to a more involved supporter of Rei, while the change in his own ranking serves as a reminder that the professional game is demanding even for capable and friendly veterans. His most distinctive qualities are his communication skills, his talent for teaching and explaining shogi, and his efforts to keep the community around the game welcoming and accessible to newcomers.
Yokomizo is characterized as friendly, approachable, and highly skilled in communication. He is regularly shown socializing in a cheerful manner with other players, and he takes an encouraging interest in the protagonist, Rei Kiriyama. He offers supportive words when Rei wins and gives practical advice on how to interact with people when Rei takes part in his first shogi event, always engaging with him in a good-natured way. His sociable demeanor makes him a consistent and approachable figure within the professional shogi community.
A notable part of his role is his commitment to promoting shogi. He is active in outreach around the game and appears at nearly every shogi gathering featured in the story. He has a particular ability to teach shogi to beginners, and he knows how to give hints and structure games so that even spectators with little knowledge of the game can enjoy watching. This combination of playing strength and teaching skill allows him to act as a link between professional players and the wider public.
In the story, Yokomizo is frequently depicted alongside fellow professional players Tatsuyuki Misumi and Issa Matsumoto, and over time he interacts increasingly with Rei. Along with the veteran player Shimada, he also helps make arrangements that allow Rei to return in time for the latter half of his school culture festival, an event that becomes significant for Rei's personal life. Through these actions, Yokomizo functions as part of a network of senior players who support Rei's growth both as a shogi player and as a person.
His own development in the series is gradual rather than dramatic. He moves from being a background presence in the shogi hall to a more involved supporter of Rei, while the change in his own ranking serves as a reminder that the professional game is demanding even for capable and friendly veterans. His most distinctive qualities are his communication skills, his talent for teaching and explaining shogi, and his efforts to keep the community around the game welcoming and accessible to newcomers.