60471    Masuda was a king of a game, who attained the ninth level and was the first to hold three different titles.

60472    In 1959, Oyama made a comeback and reclaimed the Meijin title by successively repulsing Masuda and the powerful newcomers, Tatsuya Futakami, Hifumi Kato, Michiyoshi Yamada, and fellow Kimi prodigies such as Michio Ariyoshi to hold 13 consecutive Meijin titles, 18 in all with the addition of his earlier titles.

60473    The rising sun, Makoto Nakahara, was the one to break Oyama's stronghold.

60474    Nakahara fearlessly competed against Oyama and captured the Meijin title at the young age of 24.

60475    He defended his title nine consecutive times from then until 1981, acquiring the right to be named the 16th lifetime Meijin.

60476    In the meantime, the sponsoring newspaper changed back again from the Asahi Shimbun to the Mainichi Daily News in 1976.

60477    Kato was the one to stop Nakahara in his tracks, and was called the first genius since Jimmu.

60478    In 1982, Kato, who had previously had a difficult time against Nakahara, defeated him in a fierce ten-game match that included one "jishogi," or impasse, and two "sennichite," or draws by repetition of moves.

60479    The following year, the 21-year old Koji Tanigawa came blazing in like a ball of fire, defeating Kato to become the youngest ever Meijin in history.

60480    Excitement continued to unfold at the Meijin tournaments with a comeback by Nakahara, a challenge by 63-year old Oyama, a comeback by Tanigawa and yet another comeback by Nakahara.

60481    Amongst these events was Kunio Yonenaga, who lost all six of his challenges for the Meijin title, but finally captured the long-sought title on his seventh attempt.

60482    Last year, Habu challenged Yonenaga for the title.

60483    He was 23 years old and was often referred to as a genius.

60484    Their competition was drawn out to six games, with Habu clinching the win.

60485    Habu's quick progress continued and he presently holds six crowns.