Kaoru Iwamoto
Encyclopedia
,
also known as Honinbo Kunwa, was a Japanese professional Go player
who achieved the rank of 9-dan.
of the Shimane prefecture
, Japan.
During his childhood he spent several years in Busan
, Korea
(1905–1913),
where he learned Go
from his father.
He returned to Japan to study Go, moved to Tokyo
, and became a disciple
of Hirose Heijiro
6-dan of Hoensha
in 1913.
He achieved 1-dan in 1917, and swiftly rose through the ranks.
In 1924, when Nihon Ki-in
was established, Iwamoto joined it and achieved 6-dan.
He retired as a professional Go player and emigrated to Brazil as a coffee farmer in 1929. However, he came back to Japan and resumed his career of Go after the failure of this venture in 1931.
He won the Oteai
, the most important tournament in Japan at that time) in 1935. He challenged the third Honinbo
match against Hashimoto Utaro in 1945.
The second game of this match, played in the outskirts of Hiroshima
, is famous as the atomic bomb go game. The players owed their lives to the fact that the local police had ordered the game moved from the center of Hiroshima
.
The match was continued after the war but ended in a 3-3 draw.
A three-game playoff was held in 1946, Iwamoto won two straight games
to take the Honinbo
title. He assumed the name Honinbo
Kunwa.
which was burnt out by the bombing of B29 in 1945 and he was instrumental in finding new headquarters of Nihon Ki-in
.
Iwamoto defended the Honinbo title against Kitani Minoru in 1947, and in 1948 achieved 8-dan, becoming president of Nihon Ki-in
. He later lost the Honinbo title back to Hashimoto Utaro in 1950. He won the NHK Cup
in 1955.
Iwamoto traveled extensively throughout the West with the aim of spreading Go to Western people. He spent 18 months in 1961-1962 in New York, teaching and promoting Go. He achieved 9-dan in 1967, and had many disciples.
He is the author of three books in English, "Go for Beginners", "Keshi and Uchikomi" and "The 1971 Honinbo Tournament".
also known as Honinbo Kunwa, was a Japanese professional Go player
Go players
This page gives an overview of well-known players of the game of Go throughout the ages. The page has been divided into sections based on the era in which the Go players played and the country in which they played. As this was not necessarily their country of birth, a flag of that country precedes...
who achieved the rank of 9-dan.
Biography
Iwamoto was born in MasudaMasuda, Shimane
is a city located in Shimane, Japan.As of September 2010 the city has a population of 51,118 and the density of 69.7 person persons per square km². The total area is 733.16 km²...
of the Shimane prefecture
Shimane Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
, Japan.
During his childhood he spent several years in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
(1905–1913),
where he learned Go
Go (board game)
Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...
from his father.
He returned to Japan to study Go, moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, and became a disciple
of Hirose Heijiro
Hirose Heijiro
was a Japanese professional Go player of Hoensha and Nihon Ki-in who reached 5-dan in 1902. Hirose was the teacher of Iwamoto Kaoru and Kato Shin. Other disciples of Hirose included Tsuyamori Itsuro, Iida Haruji and Sakaguchi Tsunejiro.- Biography :...
6-dan of Hoensha
Hoensha
The Hoensha was a Japanese Go organization founded in 1879 by Honinbo Shuho. The Hoensha was the successor to study groups set up by Nakagawa Kamesaburo and other players. It was the major Go organization of the later Meiji period. Like the many Go organizations today, the Hoensha awarded...
in 1913.
He achieved 1-dan in 1917, and swiftly rose through the ranks.
In 1924, when Nihon Ki-in
Nihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
was established, Iwamoto joined it and achieved 6-dan.
He retired as a professional Go player and emigrated to Brazil as a coffee farmer in 1929. However, he came back to Japan and resumed his career of Go after the failure of this venture in 1931.
He won the Oteai
Oteai
The was a tournament used in Japan, by the Nihon Ki-in and Kansai Ki-in, to determine the ranking of its go professionals on the dan scale. It was instituted in the 1920s soon after the Ki-in was set up in 1924. Initially it was run in Spring and Autumn sessions in Tokyo, with the pros brought...
, the most important tournament in Japan at that time) in 1935. He challenged the third Honinbo
Honinbo
Honinbō was the name of one of the four major schools of Go in Japan. Easily the strongest school of Go for most of its existence, it was established in 1612 and survived until 1940....
match against Hashimoto Utaro in 1945.
The second game of this match, played in the outskirts of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, is famous as the atomic bomb go game. The players owed their lives to the fact that the local police had ordered the game moved from the center of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
.
The match was continued after the war but ended in a 3-3 draw.
A three-game playoff was held in 1946, Iwamoto won two straight games
to take the Honinbo
Honinbo
Honinbō was the name of one of the four major schools of Go in Japan. Easily the strongest school of Go for most of its existence, it was established in 1612 and survived until 1940....
title. He assumed the name Honinbo
Honinbo
Honinbō was the name of one of the four major schools of Go in Japan. Easily the strongest school of Go for most of its existence, it was established in 1612 and survived until 1940....
Kunwa.
After the war
Iwamoto's home was a temporary site for the Nihon Ki-inNihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
which was burnt out by the bombing of B29 in 1945 and he was instrumental in finding new headquarters of Nihon Ki-in
Nihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
.
Iwamoto defended the Honinbo title against Kitani Minoru in 1947, and in 1948 achieved 8-dan, becoming president of Nihon Ki-in
Nihon Ki-in
The Nihon Ki-in , also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for Go in Japan, overseeing Japan's professional system and issuing diplomas for amateur dan rankings. It is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is Kansai Ki-in.Nihon Ki-in was established...
. He later lost the Honinbo title back to Hashimoto Utaro in 1950. He won the NHK Cup
NHK Cup
The NHK Cup is a Go competition.-Biography:The NHK Cup is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon Ki-in. The tournament is televised on the NHK network. Before 1963, the competition was broadcasted on the radio. The winner's purse is 5,000,000 Yen .-Past winners:...
in 1955.
Iwamoto traveled extensively throughout the West with the aim of spreading Go to Western people. He spent 18 months in 1961-1962 in New York, teaching and promoting Go. He achieved 9-dan in 1967, and had many disciples.
Retirement and later life
Iwamoto retired in April, 1983. In his later years he was the main benefactor to several European and American Go centers in London, São Paulo, New York, Seattle and Amsterdam, largely through setting up the Iwamoto Foundation in 1986, with an initial contribution of 530 million yen.He is the author of three books in English, "Go for Beginners", "Keshi and Uchikomi" and "The 1971 Honinbo Tournament".