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Traveling Go Board: Matsumoto Castle

“I just returned from a couple weeks in Japan and though I didn't have an opportunity to play go, I did see some terrific traditional sets at various specialty shops in Kyoto and in Nagano, plus a nice one at the Edo Tokyo Museum,” reports Peter Schumer. “But the best go sighting for me was at Matsumoto Castle in the pretty town of Matsumoto in the Japanese Alps. 

Not nearly as famous as the White Heron Castle in Himeji, the old and distinguished Blackbird Castle of Matsumoto is still well worth a visit. The moat and surrounding walls date back to 1509 and the castle itself is nearly as old. Inside the castle, there are some displays of various samurai artifacts including suits of armor and beautiful swords. But what really caught my eye was this simple goban and stones, though they are a bit non-standard by modern standards of course. It looks like the stones have been through a great many more battles than the soldiers who played with them.” 
- photos by Peter Schumer