Yoshiharu Habu shocked the shogi (Japanese chess) world when, on Feb. 14, 1996, at the age of 25, he won his 7th title to become the only person in the history of the ancient board game to simultaneously possess all seven titles -- Meijin, Ryuo, Kio, Oza, Kisei, Oi and Osho.
Habu's unique style of play, known as "Habu magic," has attracted a huge fan following, many of whom believe he is a genius playmaker. He is one of the best-known of Japan's 156 male and 54 female professional shogi players, and is affectionately referred to as "Habu-san.''
Having been through a patch where he lost and won back titles, he currently holds three -- Oi, Oza and Osho -- although during his career he has won no fewer than 65 title matches for those seven honors (there is no order for the titles, which are administered by the Japan Shogi Association and the newspaper sponsoring the title match). This total of 65 is the second-highest number ever won by one person, bettered only by the 80 title matches won by the late Yasuhara Ooyama, who many shogi connoisseurs regard as one of the greatest masters to have ever lived.