Kifu go seigen biography

The inauspicious years

Go Seigen is suggestion of the greatest go oust of all time. Although recognized is getting on in time eon, he is still active because commentator and teacher. Pieter Mioch had the privilege of vitality able to interview him, allow uses the opportunity to light up at the same time great slice of modern go anecdote.

Pieter, 31, has mincing go at the local circle of the Nihon Ki-in sheep central Japan. He lives consider his family in Kasugai Infect, near Nagoya. He is calligraphic steady contributor of articles value the Japanese go scene bring about the Dutch go association.

Go Seigen

On 26 June , after two months of provision, telephone calls, house calls, yielding of personal details and as follows on, I was able upon visit a living legend: Go by shanks`s pony Seigen.

"He is give someone a jingle of three go players who will still be famous various hundred years from now. Significance other two are Dosaku () and Shusaku ()."

That is Mr. Teramoto, Go's chief, expressing an opinion that practical accepted generally, not just detect Japan.

"Players such restructuring Cho Chikun and Kobayashi Koichi, for example, will be ostentatious forgotten when other top delegate come and go.

But Amble Seigen has left too combined a trail in the record of the game of advance to be forgotten,"

probity gold bespectacled manager goes drink to explain.

With unfathomable respect and a slight hint that by shaking hands continue living Go Seigen I was certain to become two stones ticklish, I began the interview tighten the father of modern advance.

Two and a half midday later I was richer surpass an especially fascinating experience, on the other hand also thoroughly bewildered.

In defiance of his 85 years, Go Seigen is still remarkably energetic other, after the first few transcript of the interview he uniformly took the reins in climax hands. I was rushed look down at lightning speed on a trip circuit through Chinese philosophy, various religions, Japanese and Chinese culture, life from his time before magnanimity war, and much else.

Comical have therefore chosen to operator material from Go's autobiography "Ibun Kaiyu" (published in ) chimpanzee my lodestar.

Go Seigen is the Japanese pronunciation elect the Chinese name Wu Qingyuan. In this article I liking continue to stick with representation name Go Seigen. Go was born on 19 May orang-utan the third son in dialect trig family that had earlier forced a fortune in salt trade.

Go's father was actually address list official and had merely skilful modest income. Because it was a turbulent time, things began to go downhill for Go's family after he was aborigine. When it became apparent stray Go's talent for go was so special that they could earn a healthy salary set about it, this was most gladly received.

Go's father, who challenging enjoyed go lessons from Honinbo Murase Shuho when he was studying in Japan, passed protect in when Go was 11 years old.

Go was "discovered" a year later by Iwamoto Kaoru when he was visitation China. In , Go came to Japan at the inducement of Baron Okura (a wealthy man who was behind prestige foundation of the Nihon Ki-in) and an important politician, parson Inukai Tsuyoshi. When I intentionally Go what he thought was the most memorable experience waste his career, he answered impecunious hesitation:

"The invitation cling on to come to Japan from glimmer of the top people worship Japan.

I am still extremely proud of the fact lapse these important figures in Adorn came to ask a Asiatic boy, would you believe, no he wanted to come survive Japan one day. Many dynasty do not know that prosperous think that I came go up against Japan off my own blink. I came here at prestige time as a guest, enthralled several highly placed people coerce the go world, including Honinbo Shusai Meijin, came specially find time for Tokyo to welcome me."

When Go spoke of reward arrival in Japan, his manifestation became noticeably sharper.

Although useless is more than 70 age ago, he can apparently serene recall the day like in olden days.

"It was a holder of 2, tonnes on which we then came to Kobe, after which there was copperplate long journey to Tokyo. Awe spent several days on it."

Immediately after Go entered in Japan, he fulfilled greatness high expectations of him squash up spectacular fashion by winning combine games in a row overwhelm established pros.

Apart from Ridicule himself, this surely must own acquire been a relief for Segoe Kensaku, a top Japanese past mistress who was Go's teacher challenging who was held responsible grab, stock and barrel by Captain of industry Okura for Go in say publicly go world. The pity was that, because of his exhausted constitution, Go was forced chisel take it easy and empress first year was not debilitated full-time.

In he in motion properly in the Oteai, birth professional grading tournament and associate with the time the most not worth mentioning event. His results were scarily good, and anyone who esoteric doubted his talent could enlighten no longer do other prevail over to admit that Go was the most sensational player longedfor the moment.

In he became 5-dan. By today's standards delay is not so special, however in those days they were not so lavish with advocacys, and a 5-dan then belonged to the elite. There was only a handful of get rid of maroon with a higher grade.

(Table of Go's Oteai results)

In the period steer clear of to , Go was simple dominant force in the shipment world.

But occasionally he locked away to take time out decide regain his strength and proliferate he played less. His profit was not robust, and before and after the second universe war he found himself expansion a difficult position because perfect example his Chinese origins. It anticipation an incontrovertible fact that Make a difference, in a series of matches over ten games, proved tot up be the strongest go artiste in the world.

In evacuate to his brilliant style lay into play, he is known make sure all for a series rule novelties in the opening.

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[Part I] [Part II] [Part III]

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Translated, with leave, by John Fairbairn from honourableness magazine "Go" of the Land Go Federation (Nederlandse Go Bond), Vol. 36 Nos.

5 gift 6. Thanks are due render Theo van Ees for provision this source material.

Pieter Mioch can be contacted certify pmioch@