original title：趙治勲 私の履歴書（30）がん発見
Original article: The Nikkei
Author: Cho Chikun, Honorary Meijin
This is the final entry. Initially, I had planned to end on a lighthearted note, such as how recently, unable to swing a golf club, I’ve been using a small golf course nearby as a park to walk around, or the story of how Ishida Yoshio once warned me, “Never sing in front of people,” yet I became obsessed with karaoke. However, plans can’t keep up with changes, and something unexpected happened—I was diagnosed with cancer.
I did have some symptoms that suggested I might be ill, but I’ve always hated going to hospitals. Except for a time when I had to go due to a traffic accident that resulted in a fracture, I’ve rarely visited a hospital. It was only due to my daughter's persistent urging that I reluctantly went to the hospital while writing this article.
By chance, I met a doctor who recognized my name. He was very kind and quickly arranged various tests. The results showed that I had rectal cancer that required surgery, and they also discovered a primary esophageal cancer.
At first, I felt uneasy, but the attending doctor reassured me, saying, "You will definitely be cured." This gave me a lot of courage. We are currently assessing the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. As for whether I will need a stoma (artificial anus), even the renowned doctors at Chiba University said that it could only be determined after surgery.
Initially, I was resistant to the idea of having a stoma, but for the sake of my two children, I can’t let my life end here. I also want to enjoy the rest of my life, so now my mindset is that even if a stoma is necessary, I won’t mind.
When I think of cancer, I remember the actor Bunta Sugawara. In the fall of 2014, I appeared as a guest on a radio show hosted by him.
The connection was an article titled "The Treasure Box of the Mind" that was published in the evening edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun in July of that year. I mentioned my habit of carrying around a poetry collection by Takuboku Ishikawa and reading it during breaks between Go matches and study sessions. Through his wife, I received an invitation to participate in the program. It was said that Bunta Sugawara, when searching for guests, would read the newspaper from start to finish, and his eyes landed on my article.
The program ended with a casual conversation, but I vividly remember how strong Bunta Sugawara's presence was when I met him. Just like when I watched Truck Guys in the cinema, he was incredibly cool.
What shocked me was hearing shortly afterward that Bunta Sugawara had passed away. I’m not sure if it was related to the bladder cancer he had a few years prior, but looking back at the timing, I think his health might have been quite poor when we met. Yet, Bunta Sugawara showed no signs of discomfort at that time. It was likely his pride as an actor that kept him going.
Though I can’t emulate Bunta Sugawara, I hope to learn from his spirit of pride in his work until the very end. In fact, since being told about my cancer, I’ve become even more determined to work harder at Go.
A few years ago, I once told Iyama Yuta, "If you ever feel that my Go is no longer worth watching, don’t hesitate to tell me. I will retire at that time." This is because I don’t want to disgrace myself as a player who once stood at the top.
That sentiment hasn’t changed, but on the other hand, I feel that Go is the only thing I’m good at. So, I have no choice but to give it my all at every stage, learning and playing to the best of my ability.
“Cho Chikun-sensei, I think it’s about time you retired.” Perhaps Iyama Yuta will bluntly say this to me when the time comes. I think I’ll avoid meeting him for a while.
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