From: teruko <teruko <at> PO2 <dot> NSKNET <dot> OR <dot> JP>
Date: 13 oct 1999
Subject: Re: Oza history

There appears to be something strange here as the Oza was a title match
when I took up shogi in 1981. At that time, even, it had been for some
time. I think further explanation is required.
Michael Sandeman.

Hi Randy,

Patrick was right.  If you need confirmation, look in the back of the
Shogi Nenkan to see the history of the title matches (Showa 58=1983).
Nakahara has 16 titles because it counts 10 titles he won before it was
a
match, and 6 more after that.

As for Sunny Sano, I don't know of his source, and if you looked in
Shogi Magazine #6, this was way before it became a title match and would
account for the difference.:
>
> According to this year's Shogi Nenkan:
>
> - The 31st Oza was the first "title" Oza.
> - Nakahara has won 6 Oza titles, plus 10 Oza tournaments.
>
> The historical info on Shogi Nexus comes from the Nenkan,
> an official publication of the Shogi Renmei.
>
> Shogi Nexus:
> <http://www.vega.or.jp/~patrick/shogi/>
>
> -Patrick
>
> >The Oza was established in 1953 as a knockout tournament, but I have 3
> >sources
> >that differ on when it became an 'official' title match.
> >
> >1) Patrick Davin's Shogi Nexus opts for 1983 and the 31st Oza as the first
> >official title match
> >2) Sunny Sano's website says 1988 was the first official title match
> >3) George Hodge's Shogi Magazine #6 p. 4 says that the title match started
> >in 1969.
> >
> >In order for Nakahara to have 16 Oza titles, it looks like Shogi Magazine
> >is correct.
> >
> >Does anyone know the exact answer?