A 9-dan professional shogi player, ranked A for the past 8 years, Tsujii Takeshi is a lover of wordplay and craves public attention.

Other people within the shogi world call him 'a waste of good looks' due to his propensity for dad jokes and terrible puns. He is usually the only one to laugh at his own gags. 

Tsujii played against protagonist Kiriyama Rei during the quarterfinals of the 20th Lion King Tournament.

The second season of 3-gatsu no Lion. 
 
Now in his second year of high school, Rei Kiriyama continues pushing through his struggles in the professional shogi world as well as his personal life. Surrounded by vibrant personalities at the shogi hall, the school club, and in the local community, his solitary shell slowly begins to crack. Among them are the three Kawamoto sisters—Akari, Hinata, and Momo—who forge an affectionate and familial bond with Rei. Through these ties, he realizes that everyone is burdened by their own emotional hardships and begins learning how to rely on others while supporting them in return. 
 
Nonetheless, the life of a professional is not easy. Between tournaments, championships, and title matches, the pressure mounts as Rei advances through the ranks and encounters incredibly skilled opponents. As he manages his relationships with those who have grown close to him, the shogi player continues to search for the reason he plays the game that defines his career.

__Height:__ 175 cm

[Profile](https://intention-k.com/profile/yuichi_nakamura) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/nakamuraFF11) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCReBAqqC-hc9d70gOftfitg) | [Personal YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3eYAvjCVwNHgkaGbXX3sig)

**Trivia:**
- His nickname "Yuu-kyan" was given by Kenichi Suzumura.
- Very close with Tomokazu Sugita. They host a video game variety show called Tokyo Encounter together.
- Loves cats but is afraid of having them die before him, so doesn't have any of his own.
- Allergic to metals and alcohol; drinks non-alcoholic soft drinks or orange juice at parties.
- Colorblind.

__Non-Anime Roles:__

- Louis Guiabern - Metaphor: ReFantazio (VG)

[Twitter](https://twitter.com/XanderMobusVO)

Rei Kiriyama is a 17 year old boy who recently started living alone, financed by his salary as a professional Shogi player. Despite his independence, however, he's yet to mature emotionally, and his problems continue to haunt him in his daily life. His relationship with his adoptive family is strained, and he has difficulties interacting with his fellow high school students. 
 
Meanwhile, his professional career in Shogi has entered a slump. Burdened with the heavy expectations placed upon him, his wins and losses are fluctuating as his record and progression into the ranks begin to stagnate. 
 
Acquainted with Rei are the three Kawamoto sisters: Akari, Hinata, and Momo. Unlike Rei, they live happily in their modest home, which they warmly welcome Rei into as if he were one of their own. He frequently visits the family, interacting with them and receiving the kind of care and affection he never quite had while under his foster home. 
This is the story of Rei's triumphs and failures, relationships new and old, and his growth as a person. 
 
(Source: TV Tropes)

Rei Kiriyama is a child prodigy. Rei Kiriyama is also an orphan who lives alone in an empty apartment. Rei Kiriyama is a teen working in an adult's world. Life is complicated for Rei. He's an up-and-coming shogi player on the verge of turning pro, but he has no homelife, or much of a life period,outside his board game, but thankfully with the help of some life-long friends he has an opportunity start all over again.
 
(Source: DENPA)
 
Notes: 
- Winner of the Grand Prize at the 4th Manga Taishou Award in 2011. 
- Winner of the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in 2011. 
- Winner of the Grand Prize at the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2014. 
- Winner of the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2021.

Takeshi Tsujii