Everyone says “ Toyoshima Ryuou is strong for Fujii Double crown.” Score is Toyoshima Ryuuou 6 wins, Fujii Double Crown 1 win. He is one of the top 4 players now. He has Double crowns – Ryuou and Eiou and also is a challenger in Oui Title Series,but it takes a long time to be a top player. Let`s review his career.
He started to play shogi at the age of 4, became amateur 4-dan at the age of 7 and became amateur 6-dan at the age of 9. He entered the Shoureikai when he was third grade. He was the youngest shoureikai member in 1993.
Because of his excellent career, every one said " he was likely to win the title soon” but it took a long time to get title. He became the challenger in Oushou Title Series at the age of 20, but he lost to Kubo Oushou(at that time ), He was struggling in these results.
Denou Series in 2014 changed his shogi style. Denou Series were games that selected 5 players played with AI soft. Only Toyoshima 7-dan (at that time) won with AI soft. But He lost to Habu Ouza(at that time) in Ouza Title series in 2014.
After he played in Denou Series, He quit group-analysis meeting and began to study by AI.
Thanks to AI, He improved large scale perception in the middle game.
His hard work paid off. He won the championship in Shogi Japan Series in 2016 and promoted to A league in Ranking League. Finally, He got the first title from Habu Kisei(at that time ) in Kisei title Series ,also got Oui Title from Sugai oui(at that time) in 2018 and became Double crowns.
He lost Kisei and Oui Titles ,but got Meijin , and Ryuou titles in 2019. He won the Meijin and Ryuou titles of the fourth person in history. He lost to Meijin title , but got Aiou Title in 2020. His problem was that He could not defend title.
He overcame his weakness in Ryuou-title Series. He defeat Habu 9-dan in Ryuou title Series (score was Toyoshima Ryuou 4wins Habu 9-dan one win)and was the first time to defend title in 2020 .
Oui Title Series will start in June 29. New dram will be born.