Isao Nakata

Isao Nakata (中田 功) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8-dan.

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

Theoretical contributions
The Kōyan variation (コーヤン流 Kōyan-ryū) of Third File Rook is named after him. 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.

Promotion history
Nakata's promotion history is as follows:


 * 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.