Nozawa's Blood Oath
Duel of Legends: Nozawa vs. Suzuki
As the momentum of the institutional rivalry between the Nihon Ki-in and the Kiseisha began to fade, Yomiuri Shimbun pivoted its public spotlight to a titanic personal duel: the ten-game match (juuban-go) between Nozawa Takechou and Suzuki Tamejirou.
Both men had a storied past. Nozawa had achieved notoriety years earlier when he dared to publicly critique Honinbo Shusai's game commentaries. Brilliant and controversial, he gained a reputation as an unflinching iconoclast. Suzuki, nicknamed the "Morning Sun General" (Asahi Shougun), had previously suffered the humiliation of being brought down to a two-stone handicap by Nozawa when they were only 3- and 4-dan. He never forgot the sting of that defeat. With their rematch now publicized by Yomiuri, interest soared.
Press Hype and National Frenzy
Yomiuri leaned into the marketing with flair, branding Nozawa the "Comet of the Go World" and Suzuki the "General of a Hundred Victories." Readers nationwide were drawn to this narrative of vengeance and legacy. The paper's circulation soared, cementing the success of the juuban-go format as a lucrative media event.
A Series Begins in Fire and Illness
The first game began on March 7, 1927, with Nozawa seizing victory by resignation. In game two, Suzuki returned the favor, though narrowly: Nozawa was ruled to have exceeded the 16-hour time limit, and Suzuki won with only 26 minutes to spare.
Yet behind these fierce contests, Nozawa's health was unraveling. Suffering from advanced-stage tuberculosis, he was frequently struck by fever. In response, Suzuki demanded that the matches be conducted in separate rooms, with moves relayed via written notes—a strange but necessary precaution.
Victory Amid Collapse
Incredibly, Nozawa rallied in the third game, defeating Suzuki by ten points. But Suzuki's focus deepened, and he swept the next three games. The seventh match ended in a rare jigo (draw), and Suzuki's eighth game win brought the record to 5-2-1 in his favor.
The ninth game would decide whether Nozawa would drop in official rank. Emaciated and pale, he ignored pleas from friends to withdraw. "My life is ending anyway," he reportedly said, "so let me die with honor. Even if I perish, may one of these games live on."
Death on the Board
The ninth game, played in March 1930, was a haunting affair. Nozawa was visibly skeletal, often staring into space. The atmosphere at the match was tense and funereal. The game ended in a draw—a testament to Nozawa's unyielding spirit.
Though a tenth game was scheduled, Nozawa could not continue. Barely able to eat or walk, he passed away in January 1931. His final thoughts remained fixated on the match.
Legacy Beyond Score
While the score stood against him—5 losses, 2 wins, 2 draws—Nozawa's sheer will and artistry in the face of death won him eternal respect. The Go community remembers him not for his record but for the intensity and brilliance of the games he left behind. To speak of Nozawa Takechou is to recall a man who literally played with his last breath.
Want the next chapter of Go history?
🔸Subscribe to our email list to get occasional reminders to read new stories
🔸 Access high-quality lectures and Go equipment
🔸Join a growing community preserving the greatest drama Go has ever known
🡆 Because every legend begins with a move.
And every game tells a story.
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.
Contact: For verification or takedown requests, please email help@zeejyan.com.
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》)
