Minoru Kitani (木谷 実, Kitani Minoru, January 25, 1909 – December 19, 1975) was one of the most celebrated professional Go players and teachers of the game of Go in the twentieth century in Japan.
He earned the nickname "the Prodigy" after winning a knockout tournament. He defeated eight opponents from the Kiseisha in a row during 1928. He played a celebrated match with then retiring Honinbō Shūsai. The Nobel Prize winning author Kawabata Yasunari used this game in his novel "The Master of Go". In 1954 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, but soon recovered. His condition came back in 1964, after which he retired from professional play. He was given the Okura Prize in 1967.
Segoe Kensaku, a friend and rival of Kitani, nicknamed him "the Great Kitani" due to his extraneous efforts relating to Go.
Relationship with Go Seigen
Kitani was a young prodigy who quickly attracted attention after the founding, in 1924, of the Nihon Ki-in. He became a great rival and friend of Go Seigen after the latter was brought to Japan from China.
Go and Kitani were the vanguard of the Shinfuseki or "New Opening" theory, a period roughly 1933-6 which saw great innovations in Go opening theory.
In 1939, Go Seigen and Kitani played in the Kamakura jubango, the most celebrated jubango of the century. It ended in Go Seigen's decisive victory. Kitani's career never quite recovered; he was also hampered by bad health, in the form of a heart condition. He was later noted for a style of spectacular idiosyncrasy, with great emphasis on secure territory.
Go and Kitani later lived only few minutes apart by walk, and Go Seigen's daughters studied Go in Kitani Dojo's amateur branch for children. Kitani had his stroke when he was chatting with Go. Kitani died 6 months after.
Izumi Kobayashi, Kitani's granddaughter and a top female Go player, married Cho U, the student of Go's Student Rin Kaiho.
Kitani dojo
Kitani was subsequently noted as the most prolific teacher ever of future professional players. The Kitani dojo, which began to flourish after 1945 in the Kitani house in the countryside, was in practical terms run by his wife, produced a whole generation of top players who would dominate Japanese go from the early 1970s to mid-1990s. His own daughter Reiko (1939–1996) reached 6 dan and won the All-Japan Women's Championship several times,[1] and married one of his best students, Koichi Kobayashi. Their child, Izumi Kobayashi, Kitani's granddaughter, is now one of Japan's current leading female players. At the time of his death, he had taught over 60 students, 40 of whom went on to become professionals. The total dan rank of all his students add up to over 250.[citation needed]
minoru, kitani, 木谷, kitani, minoru, january, 1909, december, 1975, most, celebrated, professional, players, teachers, game, twentieth, century, japan, full, namekanji木谷実born, 1909, january, 1909kobe, japandieddecember, 1975, 1975, aged, japanteachertamejiro, s. Minoru Kitani 木谷 実 Kitani Minoru January 25 1909 December 19 1975 was one of the most celebrated professional Go players and teachers of the game of Go in the twentieth century in Japan Minoru KitaniFull nameMinoru KitaniKanji木谷実Born 1909 01 25 January 25 1909Kobe JapanDiedDecember 19 1975 1975 12 19 aged 66 JapanTeacherTamejiro SuzukiPupilList of Minoru Kitani pupilsTurned pro1924Rank9 Dan Contents 1 Biography 2 Relationship with Go Seigen 3 Kitani dojo 4 Promotion Record 5 Titles amp runners up 6 References 7 External linksBiography EditHe earned the nickname the Prodigy after winning a knockout tournament He defeated eight opponents from the Kiseisha in a row during 1928 He played a celebrated match with then retiring Honinbō Shusai The Nobel Prize winning author Kawabata Yasunari used this game in his novel The Master of Go In 1954 he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage but soon recovered His condition came back in 1964 after which he retired from professional play He was given the Okura Prize in 1967 Segoe Kensaku a friend and rival of Kitani nicknamed him the Great Kitani due to his extraneous efforts relating to Go Relationship with Go Seigen EditKitani was a young prodigy who quickly attracted attention after the founding in 1924 of the Nihon Ki in He became a great rival and friend of Go Seigen after the latter was brought to Japan from China Go and Kitani were the vanguard of the Shinfuseki or New Opening theory a period roughly 1933 6 which saw great innovations in Go opening theory In 1939 Go Seigen and Kitani played in the Kamakura jubango the most celebrated jubango of the century It ended in Go Seigen s decisive victory Kitani s career never quite recovered he was also hampered by bad health in the form of a heart condition He was later noted for a style of spectacular idiosyncrasy with great emphasis on secure territory Go and Kitani later lived only few minutes apart by walk and Go Seigen s daughters studied Go in Kitani Dojo s amateur branch for children Kitani had his stroke when he was chatting with Go Kitani died 6 months after Izumi Kobayashi Kitani s granddaughter and a top female Go player married Cho U the student of Go s Student Rin Kaiho Kitani dojo EditKitani was subsequently noted as the most prolific teacher ever of future professional players The Kitani dojo which began to flourish after 1945 in the Kitani house in the countryside was in practical terms run by his wife produced a whole generation of top players who would dominate Japanese go from the early 1970s to mid 1990s His own daughter Reiko 1939 1996 reached 6 dan and won the All Japan Women s Championship several times 1 and married one of his best students Koichi Kobayashi Their child Izumi Kobayashi Kitani s granddaughter is now one of Japan s current leading female players At the time of his death he had taught over 60 students 40 of whom went on to become professionals The total dan rank of all his students add up to over 250 citation needed Promotion Record EditRank Year Notes1 dan 19242 dan 19263 dan 19264 dan 19275 dan 19296 dan 19337 dan 19358 dan 19429 dan 1956Titles amp runners up EditTitle Years HeldCurrent 1 NHK Cup 1960Defunct 2 Asashi Top Position 1957 1958Title Years LostCurrent 5 Honinbo 1947 1953 1959 NHK Cup 1958 1961Defunct 3 NHK Championship 1958 Asashi Top Position 1959 Igo Senshuken 1958References Edit Kitani Reiko sensei xmp net External links EditBroken Link Interview with Tsuchida alternative location Tsuchida Kitani article Gobase page on Kitani Minoru Sensei s Library on Kitani Minoru Sensei s Library on the Kitani dojo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Minoru Kitani amp oldid 1066950618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
