Go Seigen
A Master in Mourning
In the aftermath of the chaotic Eternal Ko scandal and the inexplicable "no result" ruling against his winning game, Segoe Kensaku found himself emotionally devastated. Just as he was recovering, tragedy struck again—his beloved disciple, the promising 4-dan player Matsuzawa, died unexpectedly. Overwhelmed with grief, Segoe sank into despair.
But fate had other plans. Around this time, news arrived of an unprecedented event: a Chinese prodigy was coming to Japan.
A Legend from Beijing
As early as 1926, during a trip to China, two rising Japanese professionals, Iwamoto Kaoru (6-dan) and Kosugi Toku (4-dan), played against a 12-year-old boy in Beijing. Iwamoto gave three stones and lost twice, and only narrowly won, giving two. Kosugi, even with a two-stone handicap, was defeated. The child’s name was Wu Qingyuan (later known as Go Seigen).
Stunned, Iwamoto wrote about the boy in his published travelogue, A Tour of China, which caused ripples across the Japanese Go world. Segoe Kensaku, ever the talent scout, was especially excited. He lobbied hard for Wu’s invitation to Japan, eventually convincing Baron Ōkura Kishichirō, vice president of the Nihon Ki-in, to get involved. Political heavyweight Inukai Tsuyoshi also lent support, and the Japanese Foreign Ministry formally issued orders for Ambassador Yoshizawa in Beijing to negotiate Wu’s visit.
Diplomatic Game and a Historic Invitation
In 1927, Inoue Kōhei (5-dan) traveled to Beijing. Letting Wu have two stones, he was soundly beaten. Switching to even games (giving Black), Inoue managed only one win and one draw over three games. Returning to Tokyo, he praised Wu’s strength, stating unequivocally that the boy was “at least 3-dan in strength—likely more.”
Spurred by this, Segoe wrote Wu a personal letter. Wu later recalled this letter as "a work of art in itself, filled with eloquence and insight… unthinkable to have been written by a Go player."
Later that year, Segoe sent his star pupil, Hashimoto Utarō, to Beijing to personally escort Wu Qingyuan to Japan. Hashimoto let Wu play as Black in two games and lost both. On October 23, 1927, Wu Qingyuan arrived in Japan accompanied by his mother and elder brother.
A Prodigy Arrives in Tokyo
Having finally welcomed the boy he so longed to mentor, Segoe was elated. He immediately requested a 3-dan certificate for Wu from the Nihon Ki-in. Many Japanese professionals objected, insisting that Wu be granted at most 1-dan. A compromise was reached: Wu would undergo formal dan qualification matches under a provisional 3-dan assumption.
The first test came against Shinohara Masami (4-dan), the top performer of that year's Ōteai. Wu took Black and won after three days of intense battle. Then came the ultimate trial: a two-stone game against Honinbo Shusai himself. Wu played with calm precision and won by four points. Shusai himself was impressed, calling it a “textbook two-stone masterpiece… stately, solid, and without flaw.” Finally, Wu defeated Murashima (4-dan) by five points as Black, officially securing his 3-dan status.
The Mimicry Game: Wu Qingyuan’s Daring Debut
A Strategic Shockwave
In 1929, Wu Qingyuan entered a prestigious knockout tournament sponsored by Jiji Shimpō. His first opponent was none other than the formidable Kitani Minoru. Right from move one, Wu shocked the crowd: he played at the center point—Tengen. Then came an even more astonishing tactic—he began mimicking Kitani’s every move.
Stone for stone, Wu mirrored his opponent’s formations on the board. Kitani became visibly unsettled, frequently leaving his seat to complain to the referee: “If he keeps copying me, we can’t have a proper match!” But mimicry, though unsettling, was not against the rules.
This psychological warfare wore Kitani down. After 64 moves, Wu finally deviated with move 65. His position was solid, and the experiment was considered a success. Although a later mistake at move 113 cost him the game (he lost by three points), the press erupted in debate. Some praised Wu’s mimicry as brilliant, others decried it as mechanical and lacking artistry.
A Strategy Beyond Its Maker
Despite controversy, Wu’s mimicry strategy gained a place in Go history. Years later, Fujisawa Hosai would adopt it as a core technique—“unmoving strategy against chaotic force”—a method even Wu had never envisioned. What began as an experiment from a teenage prodigy became a tool of elite play.
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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》)
