Rei Kiriyama

Rei Kiriyama is the main character of "March comes in like a lion." He is a young shogi player who became a professional while still in middle school, making him the fifth person ever to do so. At the start of the story, he is 17 years old, a high school student, and holds the rank of fifth-dan. He lives alone in Rokugatsu Town after losing his family in a car accident when he was little. Rei struggles with loneliness and sadness, but his life starts to change as he meets Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, as well as friends in the after-school shogi club. Over time, he learns to connect with others and finds support both within and outside the world of shogi.

Rei is 17 years old at the beginning of the story.
His height is 170 centimeters during the first season of the TV anime.

Rei lost his parents and younger sister in a car accident when he was young. Afterward, Masachika Kōda, a friend of his father and also a shogi player, took Rei in as his apprentice. Rei had a tough time fitting in with Kōda's real family, especially with Kyōko Kōda, which led him to dedicate himself to shogi to cope with his loneliness. At age 15, Rei became a professional shogi player. When Kyōko tried to leave her family home, Rei decided he should be the one to move out instead. After graduating middle school, he started living alone in Rokugatsu Town in Tokyo.

In the beginning, Rei is emotionally distant and often feels hopeless. He leads a lonely and careless life, unsure where he belongs. Meeting the Kawamoto sisters and joining the after-school shogi science club helps him change, opening up his world little by little. He admires Kai Shimada and tries new things, like joining research groups and making a shogi club, showing his growth and willingness to connect with others. Rei becomes protective and caring, especially toward Hinata Kawamoto, supporting her when she faces bullying.

Rei is skilled at both defensive and offensive shogi styles, making him an all-rounder. He can sense if a move is bad, describing it as feeling "weird." Kai Shimada says Rei has a similar vibe to Tōji Sōya, while Eisaku Noguchi notes that Rei does not stick to any one tactic and often adapts to his opponent’s style. In an important match, Rei was able to spot a winning move that even experienced adults and commentators did not notice.

Rei becomes close to the Kawamoto family, especially Hinata, seeing her as someone very important. When she is bullied at school, Rei does his best to help her and even goes to Kyoto to make sure she is okay during her school trip. He also builds bonds with members of his shogi club and others in the shogi community, like Kai Shimada and Raidō Fujimoto.

Moving Out and Living Alone

After becoming a professional shogi player, Rei leaves the Kōda family home to allow Kyōko to stay. He starts living alone in Rokugatsu Town, Tokyo.

Struggles with Loneliness

Living by himself, Rei feels isolated and has a hard time in high school since he is a year older than most classmates and often absent due to shogi matches.

Finding Support and Change

Rei meets Akari, Hinata, and Momo Kawamoto, who welcome him into their warm home. Their kindness and the fun of the after-school shogi science club help Rei open up and feel less alone.

Protecting Hinata

Hinata starts to mean a lot to Rei. When she faces bullying at school, Rei worries and tries hard to find a way to help her. He even takes a trip to Kyoto to make sure she is safe on a school trip.

Club Activities and Academics

After the original after-school shogi club closes, Rei and his new friends form a shogi club at school, and he becomes the club president. He is good at subjects like math and science and helps Hinata improve her grades, especially raising her math score by nearly 30 points.

Shogi Matches and Growth

Rei joins top-level practice groups and faces strong opponents. In high-pressure matches, he can spot moves that others miss, showing his sharp senses and growth as a player and person.

At the beginning of the story, Rei is in Class C1 (Shogi ranking) and is a fifth-dan.
Later he advances to Class B2 and becomes a sixth-dan.
He misses school often for shogi matches and sometimes risks not getting enough attendance.
His grades are good except for physical education and music.