[2] Kimura first met his future mentor shogi professional Yūji Sase [ja] when the two played a 2-piece handicap game.
[4] In June 2019, Kimura defeated Yoshiharu Habu to earn the right to challenge Masayuki Toyoshima for the 60th Ōi title.
[5] In the title match against Toyoshima, Kimura lost the first two games before coming back to tie the score at two wins apiece.
The victory not only gave Kimura his first major title, but it also made him the oldest first time winner of a major title at the age of 46 years and 3 months, breaking the record of 37 years and 6 months set by Michio Ariyoshi in 1973.
[13][14] Kimura has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] nine times since turning professional.