Incredibly, the account of a game (the game) of which I didn't even know the rules was able to captivate me so much. Fantastic writing. The game elevated to a war, the players to giants. I have fallen in love with go, with what it represents and how it is (was) lived.

4.5*
It's truly astonishing how such a detailed description of a game could have such a profound impact on me. The way the author described the game as if it were a fierce war, with the players transformed into powerful giants, was simply captivating.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, eager to learn more about go and its significance. The author's passion for the game was palpable, and it inspired me to explore this ancient and fascinating world further.

Overall, this was a remarkable piece of writing that not only entertained but also enlightened me. I can't wait to read more about go and discover the many wonders it has to offer.

4.5*

"A sad, elegant piece of reportage" was how the translator Edward G. Seidensticker described The Master of Go in the introduction. It was about an actual 1938 match that Kawabata Yasunari reported in the newspapers. The novelist reworked his narrative during the war and it was finally published as a book ten years after, in 1954. It was obvious from his treatment of the particular game of Go that the story was not merely a straightforward narrative of a battle between two diametrically opposite positions. It was also a meditation on the art of fiction and on cultural tradition, and, less obvious, a glimpse into the psyche of a nation at war.

As with the tea ceremony in Thousand Cranes and the weaving of obi in The Old Capital, the game of Go was here portrayed as "a way of life and art". And like the other two novels, this "chronicle-novel" was suffused with respect for cultural products and artifacts. The Go board and stones were evoked with particular care. The dedication of the players to the craft was but a reflection of the perfectionist builders of Go board.

I don't remember when it was, but I once saw a Go board of lacquer. It wasn't just lacquer-coated, it was dry lacquer to the core. A lacquer man in Aomori made it for his own amusement. He took twenty-five years to do it, he said. I imagine it would take that long, waiting for the lacquer to dry and then putting on a new coat. The bowls and boxes were solid lacquer too.

It would not be a spoiler to mention that this was a portrait of the magnanimous defeat of the Master at the hands of his challenger Otaké. The elegiac tone of the narrative seemed to extol the passage of an era and old traditions – represented by the Master – and to herald the entry of new, fresh blood who would take over the reins of the new era – represented by Otaké. The rivalry between tradition and modernity was a constant in Japanese literary novelists. The old inevitably paving the way for the new was there in the works of Sōseki, Akutagawa, Tanizaki, and Mishima. Kawabata's version of this conflict was through his characteristic elegant elegy for the "dying" art of the game and the traditional culture and values associated with it.

It may be said that the Master was plagued in his last match by modern rationalism, to which fussy rules were everything, from which all the grace and elegance of Go as art had disappeared, which quite dispensed with respect for elders and attached no importance to mutual respect as human beings. From the way of Go the beauty of Japan and the Orient had fled. Everything had become science and regulation. The road to advancement in rank, which controlled the life of a player, had become a meticulous point system. One conducted the battle only to win, and there was no margin for remembering the dignity and the fragrance of Go as an art. The modern way was to insist upon doing battle under conditions of abstract justice, even when challenging the Master himself. ... Perhaps what had happened was natural, Go being a contest and a show of strength.

The novel described the extreme discipline and dedication of the two players to their craft. Several times, Kawabata referred to the game as "art" or to the Master as an "artist". The game, which was fought in several sessions at specified intervals and which lasted for half a year, was almost elevated to a life and death situation. The players, especially the Master, were constantly plagued by health problems and psychological stress.

Although based on facts, the novelist's presentation of the story often courted the apocryphal. The account of the events felt more like an annotation of a written piece, with some details added in to embellish the story. There were details that were deliberately falsified either because Kawabata wanted to distance himself from his story or because he was trying to achieve a dramatic effect. (The translator's introduction and detailed notes at the end of the novel were particularly useful in determining which parts of the narrative are factually incorrect. Here the translator also played the role of fact-checker.) In any case, it was refreshing to see the novelistic side of Kawabata prevailing over journalism, how he treated reality as bendable, how he practiced creative nonfiction wherein objective reality was falsified, misused, and betrayed imaginatively. – "Since I was reporting on a match sponsored by a newspaper, I had to arouse interest. A certain amount of embroidering was necessary."

Being largely a "mental" game where a single move of a stone was inscrutable, where the meaning of that move was never fully revealed but only hinted at, Go was a perfect representation of Kawabata's literary medium. In the mysterious exchange of moves in Go lay his art of the novel – the art of uncertainty and vagueness.

It would seem that the mistake [in the game] resulted from more than an outburst of the anger the Master had felt all morning. Yet one cannot be sure. The Master himself could not have measured the tides of destiny within him, or the mischief from those passing wraiths.

Kawabata often interjected a lot of things from the gestures and comportment of the two players. But in every case, he was almost reduced to conjectures and assumptions, to make an uncertain ("one cannot be sure") interpretation of the proceedings of the game. He often acknowledged this uncertainty; he always put "perhaps" in his commentary on the game. "Vagueness" was Kawabata's fictional aesthetic.

"It seems strange that I've come as far as I have. I'm not much of a thinker, and I don't have what you might call beliefs. People talk about my responsibility to the game, but that hasn't been enough to bring me this far. And they can call it physical strength if they like—but that really isn't it either." He spoke slowly, his head slightly bowed. "Maybe I have no nerves. A vague, absent sort—maybe the vagueness has been good for me. The word means two different things in Tokyo and Osaka, you know. In Tokyo it means stupidity, but in Osaka they talk about vagueness in a painting and in a game of Go. That sort of thing." The Master seemed to savor the word as he spoke, and I savored it as I listened.

In this piece of nonfiction, Kawabata was surprisingly not a mystical observer of inexpressible actions but a mediator of an exciting game. However vague and humble he could be, he was truly invested in the game, watching it with a sense of immediacy and profound interest.

Continued here: http://booktrek.blogspot.com/2014/01/...

This is a book based on an event in 1938, which is the Go championship. Starring Shūsai Honnimbô and Ótake (Minoru Kitani) of the seventh rank, this contention was disputed over several months and was a very significant event in Japan.

Kawabata, in a sublime way, narrates these events. As the narrator and the journalist, he tells us all the developments of the master in the face of the youth of a rival who has unexpected strategies and ways of playing. In fact, this narrative shows us a confrontation between an old school and a new process. Where youth also confronts old age.

Over 200 pages, Kawabata develops the entire contention and we gradually get to know the characters who are immersed in the "Art" and the game. Here comes the discussion of the value of things and how this event will be a watershed for the change of rules in the Go world. Although the background is Japan, it has a profound reading that shows us that there is a changing world and that as human beings, we try to adapt without knowing that new generations come with other ideas... I think the final reflection culminates here, in that everything is changeable and so it is in the world of board games.

As a special note, Go is a game of Chinese origin whose main objective is a confrontation between white and black, and whoever fills the board and defeats their opponent will win.

Más que una novela, diría yo: una crónica (obsesiva). It is not just a novel; I would say it is an obsessive chronicle. It exemplarily frames passion, discipline, and above all, the ancestral spirit of something that once became more than just a "game", but pure art, a way of life, and a reason for living. At least, for the central character of this book.

Each book that I read by the Maestro Kawabata reveals even more to me that wonderful virtuosity he has in his prose. Beneath an apparent simplicity, he allows his readers to experience an almost unlimited range of sensations, feelings, illusions, and disappointments that are so characteristic of human beings. His writing is like a delicate web that weaves together the beauty and the pain of life, making us reflect on our own existence and the things that truly matter.

Kawabata's works are a treasure trove of literary gems, waiting to be discovered and explored. They have the power to transport us to another world, a world filled with emotions and experiences that we may have never known before. And once we enter this world, we are reluctant to leave, for it has left an indelible mark on our hearts and minds.

I can't really put my finger on why or how this book moved me the way it did. But there's definitely something subtly sublime about this little novel.

Maybe it's the way the author weaves the story, with its intricate plot and well-developed characters. Each page seems to draw me deeper into their world, making me feel as if I'm a part of their lives.

Or perhaps it's the themes explored within the book. Love, loss, hope, and redemption are all present, and they're presented in a way that makes me think and reflect on my own life.

Whatever the reason, this book has had a profound impact on me. It's a story that will stay with me for a long time, and I know that I'll be thinking about it for days to come.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging read. It's a true gem that shouldn't be missed.

First of all, I am sorry when I see that classic literary books and award-winning writers do not have a greater impact because they are not "white". World, we must expand our horizons.

This particular book combines reality with fantasy. The author transfers to the realm of fiction a game that was present in the late 1930s. It is Go, a widespread game in Japan that has helped many people to demonstrate strategic abilities. It is not a suspenseful and exciting book, as you know from the beginning how it ends. The author focuses on the psychological composition of the two players and how their actions and their then situation - mental and physical - led to this outcome. It is easy to read and gives a rather good picture of Japanese society and mainly the culture around the game.

How Kawabata combines a journalistic narrative voice with such a rich literary tradition baffles me.

It is more perplexing than the intricate game of Go and its complex representation of the structural game in society that the novel is supposed to explore.

Kawabata takes us through a beautiful structure, peeling such thin layers of meaning with each inflection and each crafty Go move between the classic master and the iconoclast challenger.

The way he weaves together these elements is truly remarkable.

One can't help but be in awe of his literary prowess.

The combination of the journalistic and the literary creates a unique and engaging reading experience.

It makes the reader question and思考 about the deeper meanings and themes within the story.

Kawabata's use of language and his ability to paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind are truly masterful.

Overall, his work is a testament to the power of literature to explore and揭示 the human condition.

After several months of intermittent and spaced-out reading, I finally finished this book.

It tells the story of a game of Go that also lasted several months and was equally slow and intermittent. What interested me the most was not what was said about the game, of which I know very little (practically nothing, in fact), but how the book depicts a change in era in Japan: from a traditional society to a much more modern one.

The first is represented by the Go Master who is challenged in this game, and the second by the challenger. The way they think and execute the same game is completely different between the two players, and this contrast is what makes this chronicle something distinct.

Recommended for anyone who is interested in reading something about Japanese society in the 1930s, a society that would never be the same after World War II.

The original article seems a bit lackluster. It could use some improvement to make it more engaging. For example, we could add more details and examples to bring the content to life.

Maybe we could also use more vivid language and a more interesting writing style. This would help to capture the reader's attention and make the article more enjoyable to read.

Another option would be to restructure the article to make it more logical and organized. This would make it easier for the reader to follow the flow of the content and understand the main points.

By making these changes, we can transform the original article into a more interesting and engaging piece of writing that will appeal to a wider audience.

The Master presents a beautiful portrayal of Japanese tradition through the story of the game of Go. The main hero of the story is an old Go master, presented here as the Master or the unbeaten master, and he also represents traditional Japan. Meanwhile, his opponent, Otake, with his innovative playing style, represents everything that is coming, modernization, and the new Japan. The Master's last game, the only defeat, the Kōbayshi presents to us a match that actually took place in 1938 under the auspices of two major Japanese newspapers. The match itself carries great symbolism and seems to predict the events that will soon occur in Japan. Even then, Go was a game that was in decline, and the match was organized with the intention of breathing new life into it. However, right from the beginning of the book, we learn that the unbeaten Master was defeated in that game of the century, and that the game itself cost the life of the old Master. Kōbayshi, as a lover of tradition, carefully followed this match and presented it move by move, analyzing the psychological states of the opponents, their characteristics, the difficulties they encounter during the match, as well as the way they spend their free time between games. While describing the Go game, Kōbayshi introduces us to the rules of the game, but also to the tradition of old Japan. He does not miss the opportunity to present us with traditionally made Go tables, the pieces used to play, the art of tea drinking, but also the influence of aggressive Americanization in that world of peace, quiet, and tranquility. According to Kōbayshi, this match actually represents a battle between tradition personified through the Master's tenderness, fragility, and patience, and modernization presented through the challenger and his aggression, cruelty, and cunning in the game of Go. The Master cannot in any way understand that the time of his moral principles has passed, that someone younger has appeared who plays the traditional game in a more modern and perhaps more perfect way. Therefore, for him, defeat in the game of Go means the end of life, both for the Master and for a way of life. This duel can also be seen as a constant conflict between generations, as an example of the passage of time and the constant new, not necessarily better, perception of the world that surrounds us. A very interesting book, in line with Kōbayshi's style, filled with tradition and the historical context in which Japan was located at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, before it rose like a Phoenix from the ashes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Traditional Japanese writers definitely did not like that modern Japan.

"Since the game was brought to Japan over 1000 years ago, this art has remained unimproved for many centuries. The Japanese discovered the mystery of that wisdom, 'that path of 361' (361 or 19 squared, which is also the number of points on the Go board), which the Chinese saw as a path that encompasses the principles of nature, the universe, and human life, and they called it the reason of the immortals, a game that abounds in spiritual forces."

I spent as much time reading this short novel as the Go master took to finish his last game.

The story is based on real events. It's as if Kawabata wanted us to feel the endless duration of the tournament while reading it.

There are many characters and I got a bit lost in the Japanese names and the rules of the Go game.

The author has a rare gift for seizing moments of life. Nature is very present in the story.

But I guess this is not the best novel to discover the master of Japanese literature.

Perhaps there are other works of his that would provide a more comprehensive and accessible introduction to his genius.

Nonetheless, this short novel still offers some interesting insights and a unique reading experience.

It makes me want to explore more of Kawabata's works and learn more about the rich and complex world of Japanese literature.

Overall, while it may not be a perfect introduction, it has definitely piqued my interest and left me with a sense of curiosity and wonder.

I look forward to delving deeper into the works of this renowned author and uncovering the many treasures that lie within.

A faithful account of the game in question is presented here. The author, with great effort and within his ability, endeavors to make the reader empathize with both the old-world master and the new-age challenger.

The description of the game is detailed and engaging, allowing the reader to vividly picture the scenes and actions.

The author's use of language and narrative techniques helps to bring the characters and their experiences to life.

It is a truly enjoyable read that takes the reader on a journey through the game, making them feel as if they are right there, witnessing the battle between the old and the new.

The article not only provides an interesting account of the game but also offers insights into the strategies and mindsets of the players.

Overall, it is a well-written piece that will appeal to both fans of the game and those interested in the clash of different eras and styles.