The 38th Ryuo Tournament Title Ceremony — Celebrating Lifetime Ryuo

The 38th Ryuo Tournament Title Ceremony was held on January 28 in Tokyo to celebrate Sota Fujii’s remarkable fifth consecutive Ryuo win, which earned him the title of Lifetime Ryuo. As a special sponsor, Nomura offered congratulations and held interactive activities for attendees.

The Ryuo title ceremony honors players and formally crowns the winner of the Ryuo tournament. Sota Fujii’s victory in the 38th installment marked his fifth straight win, qualifying him for Lifetime Ryuo status. This distinction, awarded to players who win five straight titles or seven titles in total, was previously held by Akira Watanabe (9-dan) and Yoshiharu Habu (9-dan). Fujii is the third person and the youngest ever to achieve this milestone.

At the ceremony, after presenting the certificate of recommendation and the Ryuo trophy to Fujii, medal plaques were also presented to the winners of each ranking tournament group.

In honor of Fujii’s achievement, Nomura ran a congratulatory advertisement for the 38th tournament in the Yomiuri Shimbun on January 27, highlighting his progress from the 34th through the 37th tournaments and wishing him continued success. Nomura also presented Fujii with a special acrylic stand. 

Calligraphy boards handwritten by Fujii, and by the winners and runners-up of the ranking tournament groups were displayed at the ceremony. Many attendees paused to study the brushstrokes and reflect on the fierce battles of the 38th Ryuo tournament. 

Toward the end of the ceremony, we gave away acrylic stands identical to the one presented to Fujii through a lottery. Each time a winning number was called, cheers and applause filled the venue, adding to the celebratory mood.

Nomura will continue to support all the players who compete for the Ryuo title and the new legends that emerge. Through cultural and sporting activities, we will continue to support people’s pursuits and deliver moments of inspiration.