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Go Spotting: The Japanese Miracle Men, My Golden Days & Dragon Inn

Ralph Hewins' The Japanese Miracle Men (1967) provides portraits of the most influential Japanese tycoons of the post-war period, "and for several of them it is highlighted that they were keen go players," writes Erwin Gerstorfer. "Some of them even having the highest amateur Dan level of that time." Among the go-playing tycoons behind the economic rise of Japan after World War II were Taizō Ishizaka and oil magnate Taro Yamashita. In the book, Ishizaka, who was president of the Japanese Federation of Economic Organizations and promoted go internationally, relates his go experience and his success in business, Gerstorfer says. 

"Recently saw the films My Golden Days (2015) and Dragon Inn (1967, left) at the Cleveland Cinematheque," writes Steve Zilber. "The first has the boyfriend starting to teach his new girl friend how to play (just a few seconds) and the second has two Chinese soldiers playing before they're attacked (again, just a few seconds). Zilber is president of the Cleveland Go Club.