Ryūma Tonari
Tonari invented the Tonari opening, which is named after him. Early life. Tonari was born on January 17, 1990, in Miyazaki, Miyazaki. As a young boy, he learned how to play shogi from watching his father and older brother playing each other. In 2000, Tonari defeated fellow future professional Taichi Nakamura to win the 25th as a fifth-grade student at Miyazaki Ehira Elementary School. Tonari entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū as a student of shogi professional Kōji Tanigawa in September 2000. He was promoted to the rank of  3-dan in October 2007, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2016 after winning the 58th 3-dan League with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses. Shogi professional. In October 2013, Tonari became the only apprentice professional 3-dan to win the tournament when he defeated Tetsuya Fujimori 2 games to 1 for the 44th Shinjin-Ō title. Promotion history. Tonari's promotion history is as follows: Titles and other championships. Tonari has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won one non-major title championship. Awards and  honors. Tonari received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Award for "Special Game of the Year" for the 2014 Shogi Year for his game against Mitsunori Makino in the Round 2 of the 46th tournament.