Akira Inaba

 is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8-dan. Inaba, together with Tetsurō Itodani, Masayuki Toyoshima and Akihiro Murata, is one of four Kansai-based young shogi professionals who are collectively referred to as the "Young Kansai Big Four" (関西若手四天王 "Kansai Wakate Shitennō").
Promotion history.
Inaba's promotion history is as follows:
Titles and other championships.
Inaba has appeared in a major title match only once: he was the challenger for the Meijin title in 2017. He earned the right to challenge Amahiko Satō for the title by winning the 2016-2017 Class A ranking tournament with a record of 8 wins and 1 loss, thus becoming the eighth player in history to win the right to challenge for the Meijin title in his first year in Class A.
Inaba has won two non-major title championships: the 21st tournament in 2013, and the 70th NHK Cup tournament in 2021.
Year-end prize money and game fee ranking.
Inaba has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's once: he finished 6th with JPY 28,010,000 in earnings in 2017.