Published in 1951, "The Master of Go" by the Japanese writer Kawabata Yasunari composes a story marked by the sign of change. It convocates and confronts two dissimilar postures in front of the go board, an ancient strategic game that represents a challenge going much further than the obvious.

It is a representative microcosm of the explicit and subterranean tensions that occurred in Japanese society in the years prior to the outbreak of World War II. The novel is a great stage of details and subtleties, where the young contender and the old master display their skills, attuned to the weight of the history of the moment in which they had to live.

The Great Master Shusai Honnimbo, an old and venerable go player on the verge of his powers with the imminent arrival of death, arranges his last game against the representative of modern Japanese rationalism, the young contender and rising player, Otake. Both, tinged with grays by the postures that each one represents through the distinctive game that each one employs in front of the go board, signal through this the main tensions to which Japanese culture was subjected in the face of the growing influence of the West since the Meiji era onwards.

Actually happened in 1938 and fictionalized by Kawabata through a chronicle of the event, the story is the framework that allows us to witness an incredible novel of transition where there are no good or bad, but only two contenders who face their ideals and values in a game that serves as an excuse to graph the cultural determinants of the island in the first decade of the 20th century.

"It was as if the life of Shusai, master of go, had come to an end, along with his art, with that last game" (53).

This is an exquisite book that tells the last game of an old Go master. It not only allows us to appreciate the game and the atmosphere created within it, but also reveals the tensions between Japanese tradition and culture and Westernization.

Kawabata's literature is very sweet and melancholy. It charmed me.

The story unfolds in a vivid and detailed way, painting a vivid picture of the Go game and the emotions and thoughts of the characters involved. The description of the game is so precise that it makes the reader feel as if they are sitting right there, witnessing every move and decision.

Moreover, the exploration of the cultural conflicts adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative. It makes us think about the impact of globalization on traditional cultures and the challenges that come with it.

Overall, this is a remarkable piece of literature that combines the beauty of the game of Go with the complexity of human emotions and cultural differences. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Japanese culture, literature, or simply a good story.

I have absolutely no idea how to play go.

However, this book has made me completely rethink my whole damn life.

The moment I picked up this book, something within me shifted.

It opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and perspectives.

Even though go is a game I know nothing about, the wisdom and insights shared in the book have had a profound impact on me.

It has made me question my beliefs, my goals, and the way I approach life.

I now see that there is so much more to life than what I initially thought.

This book has become a catalyst for change, inspiring me to look at things differently and strive for a more fulfilling existence.

It has shown me that even in the most unexpected places, like a book about a game I don't understand, there can be hidden treasures of knowledge and inspiration waiting to be discovered.

And for that, I am truly grateful.

YouTube.com offers a plethora of videos where people elucidate how to play Go. This is precisely where I headed to watch and gear myself up for delving into this book.

That turned out to be quite enlightening.

'The Master of Go’ is a highly acclaimed book, renowned in several countries as a literary masterpiece. Nevertheless, it is not what one would consider edifying.

Ailing and on the verge of death, an elderly master of Go engages in an epic game against a young, modern man. The game is shifted to various inns across Japan. Seasons change, the weather fluctuates, illness comes and goes, and negotiations disrupt the progress of the game. Reporters eagerly trail the play week after week. The players meet approximately every three days, and a single session of play can last anywhere from 19 hours to just three. They might move one stone on the board or make 20 moves. Often, after a stone is placed, the opponent might spend four hours poring over the board before making a counter move. Conversation between moves may or may not occur. Frequent trips to the bathroom betray the tension. The Master's heart causes him recurrent pain, and despite eating very little, his body appears swollen. The author presents illustrations of the moves on the game board. The narrator, a reporter who holds the Master in high regard, is reduced to tears on several occasions after having desultory conversations with the Master, despite the latter's vague responses. The game takes a staggering half a year to conclude.

‘The Master of Go’ was penned after World War II, yet the action of the novel is set in 1938 in Japan. It is purportedly a heartfelt exploration of the clash between old values and new, art and expertise, or in other words, tradition and change. Some even surmised that it was obliquely about the conflict between the USA and Japan during the war.

All that was running through my mind was how many more pages I had to endure until I could finally finish the book.

I was ostensibly supposed to perceive or sense something profound, like a quiet realization of internal reverence, and a feeling that a superior way of life was gradually slipping into the annals of the past. Instead, I plodded on through the descriptions of two men glaring at each other, who would occasionally take a break to sip tea and take a stroll. The old man gazes with maturity, while the young man blinks with youthful vitality. Then one of them places a game piece on the grid. I turned another page. Six months pass.

Oh, I did manage to pick up on the narrator's respectful sorrow. The narrator, an observant reporter, is quietly awestruck and shocked by the depths of emotion that he somehow discerns when looking at the stone-faced players as they sit hunched over the Go board. The reporter feels as if he is experiencing universal truths being revealed.

What I actually felt was that these men had fabricated a bubble of (in)significance around a board game through misdirected numinous grandiosity.

I'm not sure. Maybe that was precisely the author's intention.

Exceptional account of the Go game that ended the invincibility of Master Honnimbo Shusai, shortly before his death. A game that, according to the old style of this game and given the Master's illness, lasted six months.

The book does not focus on the game. It only gives us some glimpses of what was happening on the board, and therefore it is not necessary to know how the game works. But for the lovers of this art, it is a new perspective to see what each of the stones was hiding. The game can be reproduced while you read at this link: http://ps.waltheri.net/database/game/...

By focusing on the players, a better picture is obtained of what was happening with the people in each of their breaks and the maximum expectation that they harbored as it was a battle between the two currents of the Go style. The new, stronger and faster one, and the old one, where art and calm predominated to do things. This game was not only a challenge for both participants but also a cruel struggle of styles. In it, we find two minds that are facing themselves to give their all on the board.

Go is one of the most exciting games, and its author has managed to humanize the moment of concentration and the effort that it entails for professionals when they dedicate themselves exclusively once they immerse themselves in the goban.

It is a final game that represents not just the confrontation between the new and the old, but rather two generations that, due to historical events, have contradictory paradigms of life.

The dichotomy of the great Japanese authors of the 20th century perhaps has this book as its most representative product.

This game serves as a microcosm of the larger generational divide. The younger generation, influenced by modernization and globalization, may have different values and perspectives compared to the older generation, who were shaped by the events and experiences of their time.

The book, in turn, captures this divide and presents it in a thought-provoking and engaging way. It forces readers to question their own beliefs and assumptions, and to consider the impact of history and culture on our lives.

Overall, this final game and the book that represents it offer a unique and valuable perspective on the relationship between the new and the old, and between different generations. They remind us that while change is inevitable, it is important to understand and respect the past in order to build a better future.

I have never played Go, and I don't really know the detailed way it is played. I only have a very basic understanding of the rules and the aim of the game. However, Kawabata is truly remarkable as he manages to describe the beauty and artistry of Go so incredibly well. Even though I had no clue what was actually happening on the board, it didn't matter. His writing was so powerful that it transcended the need for me to understand the game itself.

From about Black 177 to White 180, Otaké seemed to be in a state of pure rapture. He was completely in the grip of thoughts that were too powerful for him to contain. His round, full face had the completeness and harmony of a Buddha head. It was an indescribably marvelous face. Perhaps he had entered a realm of artistic exaltation, where the beauty and complexity of the game had taken hold of him and transported him to another level. It was as if he was completely immersed in the moment, and the game had become a form of art for him.

Kawabata's description of Otaké's state and the beauty of the game is truly captivating, and it makes me want to learn more about Go and experience its artistry for myself.

The book "Master" is about the latest match of the great Go master in Japan; (Shusai) who held the highest rank and title of Meijin in the game of Go. Kawabata was a journalist at that time and later, based on his own reports, observations, memories, and the findings of himself and others about the game, he wrote the book "Master", whose original title in Japan is "Meijin", and got it published!

The book didn't have much appeal for me. Maybe it is only interesting and exciting for the Japanese themselves and those who are interested in the game of Go.

In addition, the translation was not very explanatory either!

I have limited knowledge about Go. From the very first page, the winner was disclosed, which prevented me from generating the excitement that the book clearly anticipated. However, I did enjoy the characters. I longed for more of their interactions and descriptions of the scenery rather than an abundance of Go jargon. I am an amateur in Go. I comprehend the rules and have engaged in numerous games, yet never on a 19x19 board. I推测 that if one has in-depth knowledge of Go, they will be able to perceive the subtleties, understand the temperamental differences, and perhaps even reach the conclusion that the master allowed Otake to win.

As a 1600-rated chess player myself, this novel did remind me of my elementary school days when I used to play chess. It brought back memories of how much happier the game made me before the introduction of silly rules and cutthroat competition. This novel encapsulates what I would term "warm nostalgia for a lost era." I wished there had been some indication in the text that the journalist was unreliable and that it was actually the master who emerged victorious. Because I truly liked him and his perspectives on life. Somehow, despite not speaking much, the master was a truly revered figure. Unsullied and unspoiled by modern perversions, the master remained gentle and dignified despite all the tricks his opponent employed. The master played for the sake of playing, while his opponent played to win.

Kawabata is calm, patient, concise, detailed, and lethal. As a Go player, it seems that every word of his is coldly calculated.

He approaches the game with a composed demeanor, never showing excessive emotions. His patience allows him to carefully analyze each move and situation, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Kawabata's concise style of play means that he makes every move count, not wasting any unnecessary efforts. He pays attention to the tiniest details, which gives him an edge over his opponents.

And when it comes to the crucial moments, he can be lethal, delivering the final blow with precision and power.

Just like an enormous book, Kawabata's playing style is filled with depth and complexity, waiting to be explored and understood by those who are willing to take the time.

I truly adored this slim volume. It was based, in part, on Kawabata's newspaper reports of one of the century's most renowned Go matches. I have no understanding of the game whatsoever. (After delving into the Wikipedia rabbit hole, I somehow found myself even more confused than when I began.) However, the psychological significance of the conflict between the aged, obstinate master and his youthful challenger is simply remarkable. The obvious comparison is Zweig's CHESS STORY, but this is quite distinct. It is an existential novel that, in some respects, serves as an extended metaphor for the transitions in Japan during World War 2.

I was particularly fond of some small scenes. For instance, Kawabata playing an American on a train on the way back from a match: "If I pushed him back a little or made a surprise move, he quietly collapsed. It was as if I were throwing a large but badly balanced opponent in a wrestling match. Indeed, this quickness to lose left me wondering uncomfortably if I might not have something innately evil concealed within me."

The inclusion of death mask photography and a cameo of the storm from the Makioka Sisters (my favorite scene in any book) further elevates this work beyond the realm of the game. It adds depth and a touch of the extraordinary, making it a truly captivating read.

At times, I wonder if there are really people who watch chess games, billiards games, or other sports that are not the typical ones that the crowd gets passionate about on television. Reading this book answered me and gave me more questions: it is about a Go encounter, an ancient game that passed from China to Japan, and here it is narrated from a newspaper chronicle that, apparently, did have readers, even more so because the game lasted nearly six months, changed venues and more things.

But beyond the chronicle of the game, the "change of the times" is also being narrated, from the more traditional Japan that is becoming Westernized or "modernized", from the Go that contemplates aesthetics and spirituality, which has a Master, to the Go that is measured by mere scores and has champions.

It is very emotional to follow the Master not only in his game, but especially in his physical and mental state, in his affections, until that moment when the final point is put, where the bad move determines the end of the game and a certain decline in the Master, until he also ends his life.

What will become of us when our arts end?