Shibano Toramaru

(芝野虎丸) Shibano Toramaru is a Japanese professional player, born November 9th, 1999. As of 2017, he is one of the brightest young stars of the Nihon Ki-in. His older brother Shibano Ryunosuke is also a professional player.

Shibano (left) winning the Shinjin O in October 2017

He is known as one of the Three Crows of the Reiwa Era 令和三羽烏, along with Ichiriki Ryo and Kyo Kagen. He has won 12 titles.

Table of contents Early life Promotions Big Titles and runners-up 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Links Books Videos Pictures

Early life

He learned Go from about 5 or 6, thanks to parents who were fans of Hikaru no Go.

Promotions

• 1p — 2014 (?) (1st spot for diploma, not playing the Honsen pro selection tournament as a 1st ranked insei for 3 consecutive months before Honsen).
• 2p — early 2016
• 7p — 1.08.2017
• 8p — 9.08.2019 (automatic promotion due to becoming Meijin Challenger)
• 9p — 8.10.2019 (automatic promotion due to becoming Meijin)

Big Titles and runners-up

2016

• 3rd GLOBIS Cup World Go U-20: reached quarter-finals.

2017

• Won the Ryusei
• Won Shinjin O
• Gained entrance to Honinbo and Meijin leagues.

2019

• He became challenger to Cho U for the 2019 44th Meijin title? and won by 4-1, thus becoming the first teenage Meijin at age 19 (and with it, the youngest 9-dan in Japanese history).
• Won 67th Oza, defeating holder Iyama Yuta 3–1
• Won 6th Grand Champion Tournament, defeating Iyama Yuta in the final
• Won Shusai Prize

2020

• 68th Oza: retained title against Kyo Kagen 3–1
• 58th Judan: won title from Murakawa Daisuke 3–1
• 75th Honinbo runner-up (lost to Iyama Yuta 1–4)
• 45th Meijin runner-up (lost title to Iyama Yuta 1–4)

His 3 titles equalled Iyama (also 3 titles, although more prestigious and better paid).

2021

• 76th Honinbo runner-up (lost to Iyama Yuta 3–4)
• 30th Ryusei Tournament winner, beating Kyo Kagen in final
• 69th Oza: lost title to Iyama Yura? 2–3
• 59th Judan: lost title to Kyo Kagen 2–3.

2022

• 47th Meijin title?: regained title by beating Iyama Yuta 4–3

2023

• 47th Meijin title?: retained title by beating Iyama Yuta 4–2
• 47th Kisei: runner up (losing to title-holder Ichiriki Ryo 2–4]
• 61st Judan: won title from Kyo Kagen 3–1
• 32nd Ryusei: lost final to Iyama Yuta.

2024

• 62nd Judan: lost title to Iyama Yuta 2–3
• 49th Gosei: lost challenge to Iyama Yuta 0–2.

2025

• 63rd Judan: regained title from Iyama Yuta 3–0.

Links

• Japanese Wikipedia
• Nihon Ki-in Profile
• Go4Go
• Go Ratings and Games

Books

• Fuseki Revolution: How AI Has Changed Go (2021)
• Joseki Revolution?: Overthrowing Conventional Wisdom (2022)
• '' The First Teenage Meijin by John Fairbairn, 2020.

Videos

• An interview on his and his brothers Shibano Ryunosuke's YouTube channel about his trip to 9th Kuksu Mountains Cup in South Korea in July 2023. His brother interviews him. YouTube link

Pictures

shibano toramaru ryusei 2017 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru hsu chiayuan judan apr2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru judan apr2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru mlily 2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

yang dingxin shibano toramaru mlily 2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)