Meijin-sen: Sota Fujii Meijin and Tetsuro Itodani Hachidan to Appear at Pre-match Festival and Other Events
The 4th match of the Meijin-sen, one of the top shogi title matches, will be held in Takatsuki City on May 16-17, 2026, featuring Sota Fujii Meijin and Tetsuro Itodani Hachidan. Takatsuki City is planning related events, including a pre-match festival and large-board commentary, with applications starting from April 6, 2026.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 23:03
- 🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 14:30
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 00:50 (226h 20m after Collected)
The 4th match of the "Meijin-sen," one of the highest-ranking shogi title matches, will be held on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th, Reiwa 8 (2026) at the Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater in Takatsuki City, where Sota Fujii Meijin will face Tetsuro Itodani Hachidan. To promote the Meijin-sen, Takatsuki City is planning a pre-match festival, where both players will appear, along with Kiyozumi Kiriyama 9-dan, Akira Inaba 8-dan, Shizuka Hatakeyama 8-dan, Takahiro Ohashi 7-dan, and Momoko Kato Women's 4-dan, as well as large-board commentary sessions. Applications for participation will begin on Monday, April 6th, Reiwa 8 (2026).
[Related Event Outline]
1. Pre-match Festival
Date and Time: Friday, May 15th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 18:00 to 20:00 *Doors open at 17:30
Venue: Hotel Avest Grande Takatsuki (1-14-1 Akutagawa-cho, Takatsuki City)
Capacity: 60 people (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Junior high school students and older
Content: A social gathering where both players will appear before the match.
Participation Fee: 15,000 yen
2. Large-board Commentary Session
Date and Time:
Saturday, May 16th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 13:00 until the sealed move *Doors open at 12:00
Sunday, May 17th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 10:00 until the end of the match *Doors open at 9:00
*Ends at 21:30 regardless of the end of the match
Venue: Torishima Hall, South Building, Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater (6-8 Nomi-cho, Takatsuki City)
Capacity: Approximately 1,300 people each day (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Elementary school students and older
Content: Live viewing with commentary by professional shogi players on a large screen.
Participation Fee:
May 16th: S seat 2,500 yen, A seat 2,000 yen, B seat 1,500 yen, C seat 1,000 yen
May 17th: S seat 3,500 yen, A seat 3,000 yen, B seat 2,000 yen, C seat 1,500 yen
3. Match Viewing (during sealed move opening)
Date and Time: Sunday, May 17th, Reiwa 8 (2026), from 8:40
Venue: Match venue within the South Building, Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater
Capacity: 5 people (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Elementary school students and older residing in Takatsuki City
Content: Approximately 20 minutes of match viewing, including the opening of the sealed move on the second day of the match.
Participation Fee: Free
[Application Method]
Apply online via the Takatsuki City Tourism Association website.
https://www.takatsuki-kankou.org/info/3690/
Application Period: From Monday, April 6th to Sunday, April 19th, Reiwa 8 (2026)
[Contact for this matter]
Takatsuki City Tourism Association
Phone: 072-675-0081
*9:00 to 17:00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
[Related Event Outline]
1. Pre-match Festival
Date and Time: Friday, May 15th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 18:00 to 20:00 *Doors open at 17:30
Venue: Hotel Avest Grande Takatsuki (1-14-1 Akutagawa-cho, Takatsuki City)
Capacity: 60 people (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Junior high school students and older
Content: A social gathering where both players will appear before the match.
Participation Fee: 15,000 yen
2. Large-board Commentary Session
Date and Time:
Saturday, May 16th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 13:00 until the sealed move *Doors open at 12:00
Sunday, May 17th, Reiwa 8 (2026), 10:00 until the end of the match *Doors open at 9:00
*Ends at 21:30 regardless of the end of the match
Venue: Torishima Hall, South Building, Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater (6-8 Nomi-cho, Takatsuki City)
Capacity: Approximately 1,300 people each day (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Elementary school students and older
Content: Live viewing with commentary by professional shogi players on a large screen.
Participation Fee:
May 16th: S seat 2,500 yen, A seat 2,000 yen, B seat 1,500 yen, C seat 1,000 yen
May 17th: S seat 3,500 yen, A seat 3,000 yen, B seat 2,000 yen, C seat 1,500 yen
3. Match Viewing (during sealed move opening)
Date and Time: Sunday, May 17th, Reiwa 8 (2026), from 8:40
Venue: Match venue within the South Building, Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater
Capacity: 5 people (抽選 if many applicants)
Target: Elementary school students and older residing in Takatsuki City
Content: Approximately 20 minutes of match viewing, including the opening of the sealed move on the second day of the match.
Participation Fee: Free
[Application Method]
Apply online via the Takatsuki City Tourism Association website.
https://www.takatsuki-kankou.org/info/3690/
Application Period: From Monday, April 6th to Sunday, April 19th, Reiwa 8 (2026)
[Contact for this matter]
Takatsuki City Tourism Association
Phone: 072-675-0081
*9:00 to 17:00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)
FAQ
When and where will the 4th match of the Meijin-sen be held?
It will be held on May 16-17, 2026, at the Takatsuki Castle Park Arts and Culture Theater.
Who will participate in the pre-match festival?
Sota Fujii Meijin, Tetsuro Itodani Hachidan, Kiyozumi Kiriyama 9-dan, Akira Inaba 8-dan, Shizuka Hatakeyama 8-dan, Takahiro Ohashi 7-dan, and Momoko Kato Women's 4-dan will participate.