He is a former Ōza title holder and the inventor of the influential Tsukada Special strategy, which he used to win numerous games in the 1980s, is named after him.
[1] In 1978, he finished runner-up in the 32nd Amateur Meijin Tournament [ja] and in November of that same year he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 4-kyū under the guidance of Nobuyuki Ōuchi.
Others in the group include Yoshikazu Minami, Osamu Nakamura, Michio Takahashi, Akira Shima, Hiroshi Kamiya, Masaki Izumi, and Yūji Yoda [ja].
[6] Tsukada has received a number awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board.
[7][8] Tsukada is married to retired women's shogi professional Sachiko Takamure.