Kaoru Iwamoto(岩本薫 1902―1999) also known as Hon-inbo Kunwa, was a Japanese professional “Go” player who achieved the rank of 9-dan.

He was born in Masuda City of Shimane prefecture. He was a follower of Heijiro Hirose, 8-dan. His strategy of “Go” was called “mamemaki Go” (scattering beans Go) , because at first his stones are scattered everywhere. Later those stones are used to pressure his enemy bit by bit.

He happened to be playing “Go” in the outskirts of Hiroshima, when the atomic bomb exploded in 1945. This game was continued after the war and ended in a 3-3 draw. A three-game playoff was held in 1946, Iwamoto won two straight games to take the Hon-inbo title.

He was the chief director of Nihon Ki-in and the director of Nihon Ki-in Chuo Kaikan.

In his later years he was the main benefactor of several European and American “Go” centers in London, Sao Paulo, New York, Seatle and Amsterdam.

Biography of Kaoru Iwamoto

Year	Age	Events
1902		On February 5, 1902, Kaoru Iwamoto was born in Takatsu, Masuda City, Shimane prefecture.
1905	3	Moved to Busan, Korea with his parents.
1911	9	Learned Go from his father.
1913	11	Returned to Japan to become a disciple of Hirose Heijiro 6-dan of Houensha in Tokyo.
1917	15	Achieved 1-dan.
1918	16	Visited China with Hirose Heijiro.
1919	17	Achieved 2-dan.
1920	18	Achieved 3-dan.
1922	20	Achieved 4-dan.
1923	21	Visited Taipei.
1924	22	Nihon Ki-iin was established and he joined it.
1925	23	Achieved 5-dan.
1926	24	Achieved 6-dan and visited China.
1927	25	Married Karasawa Kikue.
1929	27	Retired as a professional “Go” player and emigrated to Brazil.
1931	29	Came back to Japan and resumed his “Go” career and visited China.
1935	33	Elected as one of the top committee members of Nihon Ki-in. He won the Oteai, one of the most important tournaments in Japan at the time.
1941	39	Achieved 7-dan, and became a permanent director of Kidouhoukokukai.(棋道報国会)
1945	43	Became a permanent director of Nihon Ki-in. Nihon Ki-in’s office was burned by bombing from the war, Iwamoto’s home became the temporary site of Nihon Ki-in. Challenged the third Hon-inbo match against Utaro Hashimoto in Hiroshima. This match is famous as “The Atomic Bomb Go Game”. On this time, the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
1946	44	The third Hon-inbo match was continued after the war and he won two straight games to take the Hon-inbo title. He assumed the name Hon-inbo Kunwa.
1947	45	Defended the Hon-inbo title against Kitani Minoru at the forth Hon-inbo match. He was instrumental in finding new headquarters of Nihon Ki-in in Takanawa town.
1948	46	Achieved 8-dan and became the president of Nihon Ki-in.(～1949)
1950	48	Lost the Hon-inbo title, giving it back to Hashimoto Utaro.
1952	50	Won the All Hon-inbo all 8-dan match against Kotani Minoru.
1954	52	Became the first director of Nihon Ki-in Chuo Kaikan(Nihon Ki-in central hall)
1955	53	Won the second NHK Cup.
1959	57	Stayed in US for the 14^th Hon-inbo league much in USA for two months.
1961	59	Stayed in US for a year to popularize “Go”.
1962	60	Visited Europe to popularize “Go”.
1967	65	Achieved 9-dan. He visited North and South America for 2 months to popularize “Go”. He was given a medal with a Purple Ribbon.
1970	68	Visited South America and Europe for 2 months to popularize “Go”.
1972	70	Visited South America and Europe for 2 months to popularize “Go”.
1973	71	Given the medal of Kun-Santou Shiju Housho.
1974	72	Became the vice chief director of Nihon Ki-in.
1975	73	Visited South America for a month to popularize “Go”.
1978	76	His pupil, James Kerwin achieved Sho-dan(1-dan), he is the first professional “Go” player among westerners.
1983	81	Retired in April.
1987	85	Set up the Iwamoto Foundation with an initial contribution of 530 million yen and became an honorary citizen of Tokyo.
1989	87	Was the main benefactor of “Go” centers in Sao Paulo (1989), Amsterdam(1992), Seattle and New York (1995)
1999	97	Nov. 29^th died.

【History and Folk Museum’s collection of Iwamoto Kunwa】

・ A statue of Iwamoto Kunwa

・ A “Go” board and a pair of stones Iwamoto Kunwa used.

・ “Go” notations

・ Diaries (1923～1935、1937～1991)

・ Notes (1966～1984)

・ Insignias

・ Etc.

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Biography of Kaoru Iwamoto

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