TV-Series
Description
Takanori Jinguuji, president of the Japan Shogi Association and the 16th Meijin, holds player number 84. Born May 5, 1942, in Chiyoda, Tokyo, he emerged as a prodigy, reaching the Meijin title match within four years of turning professional. This early period earned him the nickname "Defiant Tiger" for his considerable pride, arrogance, and an aggressive playing style relentlessly seeking decisive attacks. A devastating loss to Meijin Tanaka in a title match shattered his pride, prompting a three-year hiatus from competitive play.
Despite stepping back, Jinguuji's passion for shogi endured. His return marked significant personal and strategic growth. He abandoned his former aggression, developing the resilient "Muddy Swamp Style" focused on enduring until the final moves. He also invented the "Static Rook Fortress" against Koyama. His catchphrase, "Tighten up and then, boom!", captured his readiness for winning moves in critical positions. His evolving persona saw nicknames shift from "Defiant Tiger" to "Papier-Mâché Tiger" and finally "Jet-Black Tiger".
Jinguuji displays a cheerful, free-spirited demeanor and candidly speaks his mind. He genuinely cares for younger players, actively supporting their development. He provides significant professional and personal guidance to top player Tōji Sōya and personally assisted Rei Kiriyama by acting as his guarantor for an apartment after Rei left his foster family. Beyond shogi, he was previously involved with Makoto Kisaragi but later formed a close bond with neighbor Kaori Kotani, marrying her after winning the Meijin title.
As association president, he organizes events like a commemorative match between Rei Kiriyama and Souya, sometimes prioritizing spectacle over player comfort. His deep commitment to shogi is matched by his enthusiasm for fishing. His early career, chronicling his meteoric rise, fall, and transformation from self-centered genius to resilient figure, is the focus of the spin-off manga "Sangatsu no Lion Shouwa Ibun: Shakunetsu no Toki" (The Era of Scorching Heat), reinforcing his foundational role in the shogi community.
Despite stepping back, Jinguuji's passion for shogi endured. His return marked significant personal and strategic growth. He abandoned his former aggression, developing the resilient "Muddy Swamp Style" focused on enduring until the final moves. He also invented the "Static Rook Fortress" against Koyama. His catchphrase, "Tighten up and then, boom!", captured his readiness for winning moves in critical positions. His evolving persona saw nicknames shift from "Defiant Tiger" to "Papier-Mâché Tiger" and finally "Jet-Black Tiger".
Jinguuji displays a cheerful, free-spirited demeanor and candidly speaks his mind. He genuinely cares for younger players, actively supporting their development. He provides significant professional and personal guidance to top player Tōji Sōya and personally assisted Rei Kiriyama by acting as his guarantor for an apartment after Rei left his foster family. Beyond shogi, he was previously involved with Makoto Kisaragi but later formed a close bond with neighbor Kaori Kotani, marrying her after winning the Meijin title.
As association president, he organizes events like a commemorative match between Rei Kiriyama and Souya, sometimes prioritizing spectacle over player comfort. His deep commitment to shogi is matched by his enthusiasm for fishing. His early career, chronicling his meteoric rise, fall, and transformation from self-centered genius to resilient figure, is the focus of the spin-off manga "Sangatsu no Lion Shouwa Ibun: Shakunetsu no Toki" (The Era of Scorching Heat), reinforcing his foundational role in the shogi community.