Hoshiai Shiho - Fukuoka Co-Captain

 

Fukuoka's co-captain is the popular and experienced 4 Dan Hoshiai Shiho (星合志保 ), born 16th April 1997 in Tokyo so it currently around 28 and has been a Professional since 2013 (at 16 years).

She did well last year in the winning team with 5 wins and 4 losses. She is also Fujisawa Rina's best friend likely starting from the same Insei class.

Her play style is aggressive and she described it as,

I'm often told I'm a central-oriented fighting type. It's an image of expanding space where I can fight advantageously. It's not a calm style, so I think it's a combative type.

She once described her style as that of a Gorilla, which summons up images of powerful brute force approach relying on strength and dominating as opposed to perhaps a calculating hider in the shadows. 

Her ELO sits at 3001 making her the #497th current best player in the world.

Also interesting due to the initial increase, 3 year plateau over Covid and her marriage to a fellow pro in 2022  and then equally rapid increase.

She has also started to get to finals of major competitions 

Honinbo

40th lost to Fujisawa Rina 3-0
44th lost to Fujisawa Rina 3-2 (note the closeness of match score from the previous)