Kōichi Kinoshita
# Kōichi Kinoshita

Kōichi Kinoshita (木下 浩一, Kinoshita Kōichi, August 29, 1967) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan.

## Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship

Kinoshita was born in Nagano Prefecture on August 29, 1967. As a junior high school student, he won the 3rd All-Japan Junior High School Student Invitational Shogi Tournament [ja] in 1982, and later that same year entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional Shigeyuki Matsuda [ja]. He was promoted to apprentice professional 1-dan in 184, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in 1988.

## Shogi professional

In March 2009, Kinoshita declared his intention to the Japan Shogi Association to become a Free Class player as of April 2009.

### Promotion history

The promotion history for Kinoshita is as follows:

* 6-kyū: 1982
* 1-dan: 1984
* 4-dan: April 1, 1988
* 5-dan: June 8, 1993
* 6-dan: February 19, 2001
* 7-dan: April 1, 2017

### Awards and honors

Kinoshita received the Japan Shogi Association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2012 for being an active professional for 25 years.

