The Founding of the Nihon Ki-in
Three-Way Standoff in Tokyo
In the early 1920s, Tokyo's Go world was fractured. Three rival factions—Honinbo Shusai's Central Ki-in, the Hoensha, and the reformist Hiseikai (裨聖会)—operated independently, each stubbornly defending its turf. The prospect of unification seemed hopeless.
Disaster Strikes: The Great Kanto Earthquake
Then, on September 1, 1923, a catastrophic event upended everything. The Great Kanto Earthquake reduced Tokyo to ashes. Central Ki-in, the pride of Honinbo Shusai, was consumed by fire. Shusai was devastated, and his disciples, especially Kobayashi Soji, scrambled to support him through this crisis.
The Hiseikai fared no better. Their headquarters and assets were obliterated. Temporarily, the group relocated to Segoe Kensaku's home, barely sustaining operations.
Ironically, the earthquake provided an unexpected benefit for the struggling Hoensha. With the prestigious Marunouchi office becoming a financial burden, the disaster allowed them to vacate without penalty, saving critical funds. While tragedy struck others, the Hoensha quietly regained its footing.
A Savior Appears: Baron Okura Kishichiro
The dark chapter seemed endless, but salvation arrived in the form of Baron Okura Kishichiro, a wealthy industrialist and devout Go supporter. He pledged ¥100,000 to establish a unified institution: the Nihon Ki-in.
Credit for securing this breakthrough goes to Hiseikai's Takabe Doppei. A seasoned traveler and Go ambassador to China, Takabe had played top Chinese players like Zhang Leshan and Wang Yunfeng and earned respect in political circles. After the earthquake, recognizing the existential threat to Hiseikai, he approached Okura with a passionate plea. Deeply moved, Okura agreed—on one condition: the warring factions must unite.
Reconciliation and Reconstruction
Takabe relayed Okura's terms to Shusai and Hoensha’s president, Iwasa Kei. Elated, they met Okura together to express their commitment to unity. True to his word, Okura funded the creation of a new Go headquarters in Akasaka, built with reinforced concrete and furnished with modern Western comforts—a stark contrast to the modest clubs of old.
Okura held special admiration for Segoe Kensaku and Kobayashi Soji, whom he saw as the future of Japanese Go. Segoe's integrity and strategic vision, coupled with Kobayashi's tireless organizational work, made them indispensable in the rebuilding effort.
Tragedy Strikes: Kobayashi's Untimely Death
Just as the Nihon Ki-in was taking shape, tragedy struck. Kobayashi Soji, only recently promoted to 6-dan, died from overwork. His death shocked the Go world and cast a pall over the celebrations. Yet his legacy endured: his student Masubuchi Tatsuko would go on to mentor the fearsome Sakata Eio, one of postwar Go's greatest figures.
Nihon Ki-in Established
On May 20, 1924, Okura held a press conference to officially announce the formation of the Nihon Ki-in. The following day, a grand founding ceremony took place at the Imperial Hotel, attended by Tokyo's elite and reported widely.
Makino Nobuaki, Grand Chamberlain to the Emperor, was named President of the new institution. Okura Kishichiro served as Vice President. Twelve distinguished figures were appointed to the board. The Nihon Ki-in issued comprehensive policies covering ten areas: tournament structure, time control, ranking system, player training, women’s Go promotion, publishing, branch creation, equipment standards, and more.
With unity restored and vision renewed, the Japanese Go world emerged stronger than ever, entering a dynamic new era under the Nihon Ki-in.
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Copyright Notice
This English adaptation is based on Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》, 2016) by Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚).
For non-commercial use only: Shared for educational purposes under fair use.
Rights retained: All copyrights belong to the original author and cited sources.
Modifications: Minor narrative adjustments were made for readability; all historical content remains accurate.
No affiliation or endorsement: This work is independent and unaffiliated with the original author or publishers.
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References
Adapted from:
Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚), Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》), 2016.
Cited in original work:
Watanabe Hideo (渡辺英夫), Shin Zaigin Dansō (《新坐隱談叢》)
Watanabe Yoshimichi (渡部義通), Kodai Igo no Sekai (《古代囲碁の世界》)
Lin Yu (林裕), Weiqi Encyclopedia (《围棋百科辞典》)
