Utaro Hashimoto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Utaro Hashimoto
Utaro Hashimoto in 1955
Full name	Utaro Hashimoto
Kanji	橋本宇太郎
Born	(1907-02-27)February 27, 1907 Osaka, Japan
Died	July 24, 1994(1994-07-24) (aged 87) Japan
Teacher	Segoe Kensaku
Rank	9 dan

Utaro Hashimoto (橋本 宇太郎, Hashimoto Utarō, February 27, 1907 – July 24, 1994) was a very skilled professional Go player from Japan. Go is an ancient board game where two players try to control more of the board than their opponent. Utaro Hashimoto was known as a "9-dan" player, which is the highest rank a Go player can achieve.

Utaro Hashimoto's Life and Career

Utaro Hashimoto became a professional Go player in 1922 when he was 15 years old. Becoming a "pro" means he was recognized as an expert player who could compete for titles. He worked hard and eventually reached the highest rank of 9-dan in 1954.

Founding the Kansai Ki-in

Hashimoto also played a big role in the world of Go by starting a new organization. In 1950, he founded the Kansai Ki-in. This group helps promote Go and supports professional players, especially in the Kansai region of Japan.

Major Go Achievements

Utaro Hashimoto won many important Go tournaments during his career. Winning a "title" in Go means you are the champion of a specific tournament. Being a "runner-up" means you reached the final but didn't win.

Honinbō Tournament Wins

Hashimoto won the prestigious Honinbō title three times. This is one of the oldest and most respected Go tournaments in Japan. He won it in 1943, 1950, and 1951.

Other Important Titles

He also won the Judan title twice, in 1962 and 1971. The Oza title was another one he won three times, in 1953, 1955, and 1956. He was also a two-time winner of the NHK Cup in 1956 and 1963.

Tournament Summary

Here is a list of the major titles Utaro Hashimoto won and the times he was a runner-up: