title: Kōzō Arimori
text: # Kōzō Arimori
  
  Kōzō Arimori (有森 浩三, Arimori Kōzō, February 13, 1963) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.
  
  ## Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship
  
  Arimori was born in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture on February 13, 1963. As a junior high school student he won the 2nd Junior High School Student Meijin Tournament [ja] in 1977, and that same year was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of apprentice professional 5-kyū under the tutelage of shogi professional Michio Ariyoshi. Arimori obtained the rank of apprentice professional 1-dan in 1979 and was awarded full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in March 1983.
  
  ## Shogi professional
  
  In March 2007, Arimori declared his intention to the Japan Shogi Association to become a Free Class player as of April 2007.
  
  ### Promotion history
  
  The promotion history for Arimori is as follows:
  
  * 5-kyū: 1977
  * 1-dan: 1979
  * 4-dan: March 9, 1983
  * 5-dan: August 26, 1986
  * 6-dan: July 13, 1991
  * 7-dan: September 7, 2000
  * 8-dan: April 1, 2022
  
  ### Awards and honors
  
  Arimori received the JSA's "25 Years Service Award" in 2011 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years.
  
  