Kiriyama was born on October 17, 1947, in Shimoichi, Nara.[1] He learned how to play shogi when he was about five years old, and as a young boy played some instructional games against Kōzō Masuda during Masuda's frequent visits to the Nara area. In 1957, at the age of nine, Kiriyama moved to Tokyo to study shogi under Masuda as an uchi-deshi (a "live-in apprentice"), but became homesick and returned home after only a few months.[2]: 1
Kiriyama has appeared in major title matches a total of ten times and has won four titles.[4] In addition to major titles, he has won seven other shogi championships during his career.[5]
Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.
Awards and honors
Kiriyama has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments in both on an off the shogi board. These include the Annual Shogi Awards given out by the JSA for performance in official games and other awards given out by governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.[6][7]
Annual shogi awards
2nd Annual Awards (April 1974 – March 1975): Best Winning Percentage
3rd Annual Awards (April 1975 – March 1976): Distinguished Service Award
8th Annual Awards (April 1980 – March 1981): Fighting-spirit
10th Annual Awards (April 1982 – March 1983): Fighting-spirit
11th Annual Awards (April 1983 – March 1984): Most Games Won, Technique Award
12th Annual Awards (April 1984 – March 1985): Distinguished Service Award
Other awards
1988: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
1990: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
2000: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)
2005: 40 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for forty years)
Retirement
Kiriyama retired on April 27, 2022, at age 74. He finished with a career record of 996 wins and 958 losses.[8]
^The Kisei title was held twice yearly up to 1995. Kiriyama won the title for the first time in the Spring of 1986 and then successfully defended the title in the Fall of 1986 and the Spring of 1987.
^The Ōza tournament was a regular shogi tournament up to 1983 when it was upgraded to major title status.