79th Honinbo Tournament, Game 1, Eve of the Tournament

The first game of the five-game challenge match for the 79th Honinbo title, in which Ichiriki Ryo will be challenged by Yo Masaki, 8th dan, who will be making his first appearance in the Honinbo title match, will begin on May 14th at the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno, Tokyo.
This will be the first time a Go match will be held at the museum, which opened in 1873 (Meiji 6) and is now 152 years old. I attended the pre-match ceremony on the 13th, the day before the match.

Ichiriki, who is aiming to defend his title for the first time, will be playing in the Honinbo title match he challenged two years ago against then Honinbo Yuta Iyama, at the Kyushu National Museum in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture. "I'm happy that the historic Honinbo title match will be held at the historic National Museum. I have a connection to the museum as I attended junior and senior high school in the same Taito ward. This will be my first title match against Yo 2-dan, but I will do my best," he said.
Yu, on the other hand, has challenged for title matches in the 2016 Oza, 2017 Judan, 2022 Judan, Oza, and 2023 Oza titles, but this will be his first time competing in the Honinbo title match. In this season's challenger selection tournament, he defeated 9-dan Yuki Satoshi, 7-dan Koike Yoshihiro, Oza Iyama, and Meijin Shibano Toramaru to advance. "I've been looking forward to playing at the museum. I think it will be a tough battle, but I will do my best and be myself," he said.
With both players expressing their strong determination, expectations are high for the match on the 14th.

The organizers and other people who attended the pre-party also spoke about the appeal of Go and gave messages to the students.

■Matsugi Ken, President and CEO, Mainichi Newspapers
I am very pleased that we will be able to play a Go game at a traditional facility like the Tokyo National Museum. Both Go and the Tokyo National Museum are historically rich traditional sites, so I hope that young people will be able to experience the game and discover the appeal of Go to as many people as possible.

■ Japan Shogi Association Chairman Satoru Kobayashi
In Go, two people work together on a blank Go board, like painting a picture on a canvas, and by formulating your own ideas, a new world opens up. The appeal of Go is that you can create Go with no visible shape. Through Go, you can expand your imagination and wisdom, which I think will be useful when you do something in the future.

■Kansai Ki-in Chairman Ikenobo Masashi
I don't think there is any other game in the world that reflects so much of a person's philosophy and view of the universe in 361 squares (19 x 19). The world of Go is very deep, so I would like young people to become interested in it. Studying is important, but traditional Japanese culture is also important. I encourage you to experience Japanese culture, such as Go, Shogi, flower arranging, tea ceremony, and incense appreciation, during your university years.

■Makoto Fujiwara, Director of Tokyo National Museum
Go is a part of Japanese culture, but it is an intangible culture that can be seen but does not remain in a tangible form. Museums preserve and exhibit tangible culture such as paintings, calligraphy, and sculptures. There is a difference between tangible and intangible, but Japanese culture must be cherished. I am proud that the first game of a Go title match, which can be said to be a pillar of Japanese culture, will be held for the first time at the Tokyo National Museum, and I hope that students will also become interested in Go and take on the challenge with the desire to foster Japanese culture.

Student Newspaper Online, May 13, 2024, Interview by Reina Inomoto, 1st year student at Kyoto University of the Arts