TV-Series
Description
Kai Shimada is an 8-dan professional shogi player competing in the A-class tier. Hailing from a depopulating mountain village near Tendo in Yamagata Prefecture, his childhood involved agricultural labor—harvesting apples, peaches, and rice, plus winter dairy cow care—to fund monthly overnight bus trips to Tokyo for shogi activities, often undertaken hungry. Village elders taught him shogi; by second grade, he surpassed them and joined a local club. His teacher later arranged his relocation to Tokyo through Mr. Houchi. Though stalled at 3rd-dan for years and haunted by commute-related nightmares, his resolve endured, fueled by his hometown's steadfast belief in his pursuit of the Meijin title.
Physically thin and frail, Shimada appears older than his age due to a receding hairline and drowsy olive-green eyes, accentuated by short dark brown hair. He favors formal wear—dress shirts, coats, striped ties—shifting to polo shirts, v-neck sweaters, and sweatpants at home. He uses specialized shampoo for hair loss. A recurring stomach ailment traces back to his apprentice days, now a known trait among peers.
Calm, collected, and inherently kind, Shimada projects serene intensity during matches. He mentors younger players, notably Harunobu Nikaidou—whom he calls "Kid," receiving "Big Brother" in return—and runs a shogi study group with Rei Kiriyama, Nikaidou, and Morio Shigeta. When members advance into direct competition, he questions the group's future. His Yamagata roots drive his career; he aims to win the Lion King tournament partly to host matches there. He founded a village shogi club to combat elderly isolation, sacrificing personal happiness—ending a romance with a Yamagata woman who later married and had a child, though he retains feelings for her. Nicknamed "rain man" for rain coinciding with his events, this stems from childhood trips to a mountain shrine to pray for downpours, which caused school absences.
As a player, Shimada has no overt major strengths or weaknesses, earning a "man of effort" reputation for diligent, sincere improvement. He specializes in static rook strategy, with research and refinement central to his identity.
Key developments include his Lion King challenger tournament semi-final victory over Rei Kiriyama and subsequent finals win against Masamune Gotou, securing a Meijin challenge against Touji Souya. Post-finals, he accepts Rei into his research group. During his title match against Souya, Rei (commentating) spots a critical move Shimada overlooks, prompting his resignation—later noted by Souya. Shimada also faces turmoil when all study group members advance in the Lion King tournament, forcing internal matches and making him reevaluate the group's purpose.
Physically thin and frail, Shimada appears older than his age due to a receding hairline and drowsy olive-green eyes, accentuated by short dark brown hair. He favors formal wear—dress shirts, coats, striped ties—shifting to polo shirts, v-neck sweaters, and sweatpants at home. He uses specialized shampoo for hair loss. A recurring stomach ailment traces back to his apprentice days, now a known trait among peers.
Calm, collected, and inherently kind, Shimada projects serene intensity during matches. He mentors younger players, notably Harunobu Nikaidou—whom he calls "Kid," receiving "Big Brother" in return—and runs a shogi study group with Rei Kiriyama, Nikaidou, and Morio Shigeta. When members advance into direct competition, he questions the group's future. His Yamagata roots drive his career; he aims to win the Lion King tournament partly to host matches there. He founded a village shogi club to combat elderly isolation, sacrificing personal happiness—ending a romance with a Yamagata woman who later married and had a child, though he retains feelings for her. Nicknamed "rain man" for rain coinciding with his events, this stems from childhood trips to a mountain shrine to pray for downpours, which caused school absences.
As a player, Shimada has no overt major strengths or weaknesses, earning a "man of effort" reputation for diligent, sincere improvement. He specializes in static rook strategy, with research and refinement central to his identity.
Key developments include his Lion King challenger tournament semi-final victory over Rei Kiriyama and subsequent finals win against Masamune Gotou, securing a Meijin challenge against Touji Souya. Post-finals, he accepts Rei into his research group. During his title match against Souya, Rei (commentating) spots a critical move Shimada overlooks, prompting his resignation—later noted by Souya. Shimada also faces turmoil when all study group members advance in the Lion King tournament, forcing internal matches and making him reevaluate the group's purpose.