Mana Watanabe

Mana Watanabe (渡部 愛) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 3-dan. She is a former Women's Ōi title holder. She is also the first women's professional to come out of the Ladies Professional Shogi-players' Association of Japan (LSPA) and subsequently be recognized as such by the Japan Shogi Association.

Women's shogi professional
Watanabe's first appearance in a women's professional major title match came in May–June 2018 when she challenged Kana Satomi for 29th Women's Ōi title, and she won the match 3 games to 1. The two met again the following year in the 30th Women's Ōi title match (May–June 2019); Watanabe was, however, unable to successfully defend her title, losing 3 games to 1.

Watanabe met Tomoka Nishiyama in the title match of the 1st Hakurei title match in September–October 2021, but lost the match 4 games to none.

Promotion history
Watanabe has been promoted as follows.
 * 3-kyū: July 3, 2012
 * 2-kyū: October 2013
 * 1-kyū: March 2014
 * 1-dan: March 2014
 * 2-dan: November 2017
 * 3-dan: June 2018

Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.

Major titles and other championships
Watanabe has appeared in major title matches three times and has won one major title. In addition, she has also won two other official women's professional shogi tournaments.

Awards and honors
Watanabe received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional Award", "Women's Professional Game of the Year", "Game of the Year Special Prize" Annual Shogi Awards for the April 2018 –March 2019 shogi year.

In addition, to Annual Shogi Awards, Watanabe received Ōta, Tokyo's "Meritorious Resident Award" in 2019.

Personal life
Watanabe is married to shogi professional Hirotaka Nozuki. The two got married in January 2024. Watanabe stated that she will continue to complete professionally under her maiden name.