Original title：趙治勲（囲碁棋士・名譽名人） 私の履歴書（2）韓國の「天才児」
Original article: The Nikkei
Author: Cho Chikun, Honorary Meijin
In June 1956, I was born in Busan, South Korea. My father was named Cho Nam-seok, and my mother was Kim Ok-soon. I was the seventh of seven children, with three older brothers and three older sisters. Initially, I was named Bong-yeon, but it is said that my name was changed to Chikun when I was about one or two years old, following the advice of a young monk. I also had a younger brother, but he passed away in infancy.
It is said that my grandfather was a wealthy man, so our family was originally affluent, but by the time I was born, we had already fallen into decline. How my family made ends meet during that time remains unclear to me.
I supposedly began learning Go around the age of four. My father was fond of Go, so he might have taught my brothers as well. I feel like I started learning Go while still in my mother's womb.
From the time I first learned Go, my father and brothers often took me to a nearby Go club, where I played against older men. At that time, the level of Go in Korea was probably still quite low, and they exaggerated, saying, "This little guy is a genius!" About a year later, I reached the level of amateur 5-dan, and back then, my game was indeed quite good.
Go was merely a hobby for my father, but his younger brother, Cho Nam-chul, was revered as a legendary figure in the Korean Go community.
Minoru Kitani, the 9-dan who took care of me in Japan, was one of the top Go players, known for mentoring many disciples. My uncle, Cho Nam-chul, was the first to come from Korea to study under Kitani at his dojo, and this was before the war, in 1937, when he was just 14 years old. Even before that, during a trip with fellow Go enthusiasts, Kitani-sensei had discovered Cho Nam-chul's talent in Seoul and decided to invite him to Japan.
Four years later, Cho Nam-chul became the first Korean professional Go player affiliated with the Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association). After World War II, he returned to the Korean Go community and became a leading figure, remaining undefeated as a player in Korea for a long time.
Perhaps because of this remarkable uncle, my brothers were also passionate about Go. My eldest brother, Cho Chang-yeon, who was 15 years older than me, became a professional Go player with the Nihon Ki-in shortly before I did. My second brother, Cho Ki-yeon, won the Student Top Ten Tournament in 1975 while studying at Showa Pharmaceutical University.
It was my eldest brother, Chang-yeon, who suggested that I go to Japan to study Go.
Chang-yeon realized that his skills in Korea could not compare to those of our uncle Cho Nam-chul, so at the age of 19, he resolved to come to Japan. However, he was soon shocked by the gap between Japan and Korea in Go. Currently, Japan's Go is overshadowed by China and Korea, but back then, Japan's Go strength far surpassed that of other countries. At Kitani's dojo, he discovered players even stronger than our uncle, Cho Nam-chul.
Chang-yeon was a smart man and quickly realized that he could never catch up to the level of players his age. "If you don't start training from a young age, it will be too late. Although I can't catch up anymore, six-year-old Chikun still has a chance. We must send him to Japan as soon as possible." Chang-yeon persistently persuaded our parents. Initially, they were against sending me to Japan, but they eventually agreed. At that time, our family was not financially well-off, so this decision may have also been made to ease the burden.
In any case, the decision about my future was made without my input.
Sometimes I wonder if going to Japan at such a young age was too early. Even so, I harbor no resentment towards my brother or my parents. On the contrary, I am deeply grateful to my brother for bringing me to Japan despite our financial struggles.
It is said that when I was informed about going to Japan and joining the dojo, I surprisingly agreed quickly. Perhaps I was just an obedient child back then. Or maybe it was because I couldn't fully comprehend the situation I was in.
Surprising that he had such legendary Go blood in the family!