Shūji Satō (shogi)

Shūji Satō (佐藤 秀司) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan. He is a former executive director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Shogi professional
Satō won the 23rd non-title tournament in 1992 when he defeated apprentice professional 3-dan Eiji Ishitobi 2 games to 0.

Satō became the 59th shogi professional to reach 600 career wins on August 23, 2023.

Promotion history
Satō's promotion history is as follows:
 * 6-kyū: 1980
 * 1-dan: 1983
 * 4-dan: October 1, 1990
 * 5-dan: October 11, 1994
 * 6-dan: July 9, 1999
 * 7-dan: December 10, 2007
 * 8-dan: July 31, 2020

Titles and other championships
Satō has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won one non-major title championship.

Awards and honors
Satō received the Japan Shogi Association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2015 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years, and the "Shogi Honor Award" in 2023 in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional.

JSA director
Satō is a former member of the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors. He was elected to be an executive director for a two-year term at the association's the 66th General Meeting in June 2015.