Isao Nakata

Isao Nakata (中田 功, Nakata Isao; born July 27, 1967) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8-dan.^[1]

Isao Nakata
Native name	中田功
Born	(1967-07-27) July 27, 1967 (age 58)
Hometown	Chūō-ku, Fukuoka
Career
Achieved professional status	April 30, 1986(1986-04-30) (aged 18)
Badge Number	176
Rank	8-dan
Teacher	Yasuharu Ōyama (9-dan)
Meijin class	Free
Ryūō class	6
Notable students	Amahiko Satō Yūsei Koga Rei Takedomi
Websites
JSA profile page

Shogi professional

On July 2, 2025, Nakata defeated Norihiro Yagura in a 19th Asahi Cup Open [ja] game to become the 65th professional shogi player to win 600 official games.^[2]

Theoretical contributions

The Kōyan variation (コーヤン流 (Kōyan-ryū)) of Third File Rook is named after him.^[3][4] In particular, his development of the so-called "Isao Nakata XP" is a very popular Third File Rook quick attack countermeasure against Static Rook Anaguma.

Kōyan Example 1 ☖ pieces in hand: – 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1   香     金   金   桂 王 1   飛       角   銀 香 2 歩   桂 歩   歩   歩 歩 3     歩   歩 銀 歩     4   歩   歩           5     歩   歩 歩 歩     6 歩 歩 角   銀 金 桂 歩 歩 7     飛       銀 玉   8 香 桂       金     香 9 ☗ pieces in hand: –

Kōyan Example 2 ☖ pieces in hand: – 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1   香 桂         金 桂 王 1   飛     金     銀 香 2 歩     歩   歩 角 歩 歩 3     歩 銀 歩   歩     4   歩       歩       5     歩 歩 歩 銀 歩   歩 6 歩 歩 角     金   歩   7     飛       銀 玉   8 香 桂       金   桂 香 9 ☗ pieces in hand: –

Promotion history

Nakata's promotion history is as follows:^[5]

• 6-kyū: 1980
• 1-dan: 1983
• 4-dan : April 30, 1986
• 5-dan: March 6, 1990
• 6-dan: August 7, 1998
• 7-dan: October 11, 2005
• 8-dan: January 21, 2019

Awards and honors

Nakata received the Japan Shogi Association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2011 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years.^[6] In July 2025, he received the association's "Shogi Honor Award" in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional.^[2]

Personal life

Nakata's nickname is コーヤン (Kōyan), after the on'yomi reading of his first name.