Yuuta Fukui

Fukui is friendly, energetic and less confrontational than several of the insei around him. His presence contributes to the sense of community among players who are simultaneously friends and direct competitors.

His most recognizable trait is speed. Fukui is comfortable making decisions quickly and does not adopt the long, visibly tense thinking style seen in many professional candidates.

He remains competitive without developing the same personal rivalries that drive Hikaru, Waya or Ochi.

Fukui is a capable insei whose defining characteristic is extremely rapid play. His pace can disrupt opponents accustomed to having more time between moves to settle into their calculations.

Waya finds him particularly difficult to defeat despite being considered the stronger overall player. Fukui's style therefore functions almost like a bad matchup for him.

Fukui is also strong enough to defeat Hikaru during the professional examination, demonstrating that even candidates outside the leading group can punish mistakes.

Fukui appears among the insei Hikaru meets after entering the professional training system. He participates in regular insei competition and later the professional examination.

His games help show how varied the field is. Hikaru cannot focus only on obvious favorites such as Waya, Isumi and Ochi because players such as Fukui can also take crucial wins.

Fukui defeats Hikaru during the professional examination. On the final day he faces Waya, who must overcome his long-standing difficulty against Fuku to secure professional qualification. Waya finally defeats him and passes.

Yoshitaka Waya is Fukui's fellow insei and the player most famously troubled by his fast style. Despite being stronger overall, Yoshitaka Waya repeatedly struggles against Fukui.

Hikaru Shindou competes against Fukui among the insei and loses to him during the professional examination.

Shinichirou Isumi is another older insei training alongside Fukui and Waya.