[1][2][3] Watanabe's first appearance in a women's professional major title match came in May–June 2018 when she challenged Kana Satomi for 29th Women's Ōi [ja] title, and she won the match 3 games to 1.
In addition, she has also won two other official women's professional shogi tournaments.
[1] Watanabe received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional Award", "Women's Professional Game of the Year", "Game of the Year Special Prize" Annual Shogi Awards for the April 2018 – March 2019 shogi year.
[9] Watanabe is married to shogi professional Hirotaka Nozuki.
Watanabe stated that she will continue to complete professionally under her maiden name.