was a Japanese professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan and was awarded the rank of 9-dan after his death.
Yamada was born on December 11, 1933, in Nagoya, Aichi.
Yamada died at the young age of 36 when he was still competing in the top A class of the Meijin ranking tournament system (é Âä½Âæ¦ jun'isen), which is generally indicative of a strong player. He had been in the A class for six years and died during his seventh year.
He was a professional player for nineteen years.
He influenced modern shogi players in his pioneering use of game databases, holding research study groups, and leading a serious ascetic lifestyle.
Kanai's promotion history is as follows:
Yamada won the Kisei title twice â both in 1967 when he defeated Yasuharu à Âyama and Makoto Nakahara, respectively, in the first and second tournament of that year. Besides these two wins, Yamada was a competitor in four other title matches (for a total of 6 title match appearances). He was unable to defend his Kisei title in 1968 losing to Nakahara and again challenged for the Kisei in 1969 also losing to Nakahara. He was a challenger for the Meijin and à Âshà  titles both against à Âyama in 1965.
He won a total of 9 non-title tournaments during his career.