Nihon Ki-in new promotion system

In 2003, a new promotion system (replacing the Oteai) appeared. This change, or reform, took place together with a reform of the tournament system. Previously, players ranking 5 dan and above did not play in the first preliminary sections of tournaments to determine the challenger for titles. Rather, only 1 dan to 4 dan players competed in the first preliminary sections. However, after the reform of the tournament system, players for each tournament are divided into three sections based upon their performance in the previous edition of that tournament.

The previous promotion system is detailed in the Oteai and professional promotion tournaments pages. There is mention of the youngest promotion to 9 dan in Sensei's Gazette.

Promotion to 9 dan

For this and other promotions, only one requirement must be met.

• Win Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo or an international title
• Win Judan, Tengen, Oza or Gosei, twice
• Win 200 games as an 8 dan

Promotion to 8 dan

• Win Judan, Tengen, Oza or Gosei
• Challenge for Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo, or take second place in an international title
• Win 150 games as a 7 dan

Promotion to 7 dan

• Challenge for Judan, Tengen, Oza or Gosei
• Win Agon Kiriyama Cup or Ryusei
• Enter Kisei(S league), Meijin, Honinbo leagues
• Win 120 games as a 6 dan
• Win most prize money^[1] amongst 6 dans in the year

Promotion to 6 dan

• Win 90 games as a 5 dan
• Win most or second most prize money amongst 5 dans in the year

Promotion to 5 dan

• Win 70 games as a 4 dan
• Win most or second most prize money amongst 4 dans in the year

Promotion to 4 dan

• Win 50 games as a 3 dan
• Win most or second most prize money amongst 3 dans in the year

Promotion to 3 dan

• Win 40 games as a 2 dan
• Win most or second most prize money amongst 2 dans in the year

Promotion to 2 dan

• Win 30 games as a 1 dan
• Win most or second most prize money amongst 1 dans in the year

[1] Promotions for most prize money are earned through 12 tournaments: Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo, Judan, Tengen, Oza, Gosei, Fujitsu^[2], Toyota^[2], ShinjinO, Ryusei, Agon ( Chinese link), but not the female only tournaments.　Players promoted by virtue of number of wins in the same year are excluded.