Nihon Ki-in

The Nihon Ki-in, also known as the Japan Go Association, is the main organizational body for the game of Go in Japan. It oversees the Japanese professional system and issues diplomas for amateur dan rankings, and it is based in Tokyo. The other major Go association in Japan is the Kansai Ki-in, which split away from its western branch in 1950. The Nihon Ki-in was established in July 1924, with Makino Nobuaki as its first president, and the great majority of professional players of the time joined it. Its innovations include the Oteai system of promotion, time limits in professional games and diplomas for strong amateurs. It organizes the major professional title tournaments, among them the Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo, Judan, Tengen, Gosei and Oza.