Akira Inaba (稲葉 陽, Inaba Akira, born August 8, 1988) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.

[1] 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).

[2] Inaba's promotion history is as follows:[3] Inaba has appeared in a major title match only once: he was the challenger for the Meijin title in 2017.

[4] 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.

[5] Inaba has won two non-major title championships: the 21st Ginga-sen [ja] tournament in 2013, and the 70th NHK Cup tournament in 2021.