The Eternal Ko Incident
Revamping the Tournament System
By the spring of 1927, the Nihon Ki-in no longer saw the KiSeiSha as a viable threat. Its energy was now focused on a different ambition: launching the East-West War, a major restructuring of its ranking competition known as the “Ōteai.”
Previously, the Ki-in's players each played two monthly games, but with little money or excitement, interest waned. The new system split members into East and West factions, each with an A (4-dan and above) and B group (low-dan players). Promotions were determined by win ratios; top performers in the B group could get a promotion.
Group rewards included:
A Group Team Champion: a flag and ¥1,000
A Group Individual: ¥1,000 for 1st, ¥500 for 2nd, and so on
B Group Team: flag and ¥50
B Group Individual: ¥100 for 1st, etc.
Players supported the change wholeheartedly. Rivalries grew fierce as East (mainly Honinbo disciples and Suzuki's students) clashed with the West (centered on Hōensha and Segoe Kensaku). Allegiances deepened, creating a high-stakes environment where losing players sometimes prostrated in apology.
Seeds of Discord
The East-West split heightened hostilities beyond the board. In the autumn of 1928, tensions exploded in the infamous Eternal Ko Incident (Mannen-Kō Jiken).
Segoe Kensaku, a 7-dan, was close to achieving 8-dan based on consistent performance. Promotion would be a landmark: earned through merit rather than appointment. But this was politically sensitive. Segoe was beloved by Vice President Ōura Kishichirō but was seen as a threat to Honinbo Shusai.
To block Segoe’s promotion, West Army leadership identified Takahashi Jūji (3-dan) as their key weapon in a two-stone handicap game. Takahashi received intense encouragement and buried himself in past handicap records.
The Game of Provocation
On October 10, Takahashi played a brutal opening, but Segoe's composure and superior skill quickly reversed the tide. By move 99, Takahashi was losing. In desperation, he initiated a complex ko fight starting at move 152. Lacking ko threats, he transitioned to a perpetual ko ("mannen-kō") sequence that neither side could resolve.
Normally, both would settle for a draw, but Takahashi refused. When Segoe solidified territory, clearly ahead by nearly 20 points, Takahashi persisted. Even after all neutral points ("dame") were filled and the board was dead quiet, he refused to concede.
Segoe, frustrated, played out all final dame, including moves traditionally not played. He slammed the lid of his Go bowl in protest: "This is outrageous."
Chaos Erupts
Chief referee Iwasa Kei intervened but failed to resolve the standoff. Segoe demanded resolution, Takahashi demanded continuation. The board was surrounded. Insults flew. Players physically clashed.
Iwasa deferred judgment to Honinbo Shusai, who returned days later. After reviewing the game, Shusai harshly criticized Takahashi's play but declared: "Once Segoe played those final dame, he stepped outside the bounds of tradition. I declare the game void – no result."
The East Army was outraged and withdrew in protest. The entire autumn Ōteai was canceled.
The Aftermath and Reforms
Objectively, Takahashi’s stance was untenable. But Segoe’s decision to play out the dame gave just enough cover for the incident to be declared ambiguous.
Ōura Kishichirō eventually brokered a truce: "Let us say Segoe won to move 302, but nothing afterward counts."
Deeply rattled, the Ki-in immediately dissolved the team-based East-West competition. From 1929 on, the Ōteai became purely individual, focusing on rank advancement.
Even more significantly, this incident catalyzed the formal creation of the Nihon Ki-in's written Go rules – an effort to avoid another embarrassment like the Eternal Ko ever again.
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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》)
