Original address: https://www.nikkansports.com/general/nikkan/news/202112150000514.html
Akira Hara: In the 48th term of the title, Hideo Otake Honorary Gosei retires to spread Go "The role of Komon"
Excerpt from: Nikkan Sports
Translation and Collation: Making Excuses for Quiet 65 years, hard work
The 5th-most-time Winner of the Japanese Chess Championship and the 48th-time winner of the Championship, Otake, submitted his application for retirement on December 15, and on the same day, the Japan Chess Academy in Tokyo, Ichigoya held a press conference.
Hero Otake thought about retirement a month before he retired. The reason for this, Otake hero said: "The situation that appears in the mind is getting more and more barren. In my current state, I think it would be better to retire before the age of 80."
Otake was born on May 12, 1942 in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In 1951, he became a disciple of Kitani Shikudan and in 1956 he became a professional chess player. Known for his thick chess style, he has won 6 consecutive championships of Qisheng, 4 celebrity battle championships, 5 ten-dan battle championships, etc., and has achieved excellent results in the title battle. He and Lin Haifeng, who was also born in May 1942, created the "Bamboo Forest Era". From December 2008 to June 2012, he served as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Japan Chess Academy.
Hero Otake also said remorsefully: "I wanted to call Teacher Lin Haifeng to apologize before submitting my application for retirement, but unfortunately I couldn't answer the phone." It hurts as if your own hand was cut off."
In addition, as a master brother under the Kidani Gate, he guided the honorary throne of Masao Kato, the 24th Honinbo Hideyoshi, The Nine Duan of Masaki Takemiya, the Honorary Chess Saint of Kobayashi, the Honorary Celebrity of Cho Ji-hoon, and the Seven Dans of Makoto Ogawa during his dojo. Hero Otake has also had a peak duel with his own disciples. Otake said: "Although I hope that everyone can work harder, I have never been discouraged about Go, nor have I been too obsessed with winning or losing." He lost 1,317 career wins (4th in history) and 845.
Regarding the future of the Japanese chess academy, Otake said: "Not only the chess players who participate in the competition, but also those who have strong skills in explaining, assistants, writing, and teaching chess, they all hope to have the existence of top chess players in various fields." Not only to achieve good results in international competitions, I hope that chess players can have more communication with chess fans."
Regarding his life after retiring from retirement, Otake smiled and said, "I want to be a character like Mito Huangmon, then take Sukesaburo and Katsuyuki, then take a female ninja (chess player), and then run all over the country." Communicate with the local people and share the fun of Go."
After Hero Otake announced his retirement, his friend Lin Haifeng of the same age, including the honorary Tianyuan, many chess players said their own messages.
Lin Haifeng: In short, it was really unexpected. To be honest it's really lonely. I thought he could hold out for a few more years. From the time of the college students, and then the fixed section is only 1 year apart, and it is the same year born, and the two of us have always been together. Therefore, I can only say that I am very lonely, and I hope that he can still make his own contribution to the Go world with full spirit in the future. But it's really lonely.
Yoshio Ishida: When I entered the Kitani Dojo, I knew Mr. Ohtake. After The period was fixed, Mr. Ohtake accompanied Mr. Kitani to Nagoya, where I played chess with Mr. Ohtake. I lost that game, but it was the first time I played against a professional player. After I came to the Kitani Dojo, I knew that Mr. Ohtake lived alone and accompanied me for nearly 3 years, and after the dojo moved to Yotsuya, he often taught me to play chess. Although he was 6 years older than me, he really taught me a lot. Since then, we have played many times in title battles such as celebrity battles, and Mr. Otake's unique talent makes me think that he is one of the geniuses in the world of Go. And I failed to grasp this unique feeling and was taught many times by Mr. Ohtake. "Bamboo Forest" has really made great contributions to the Go world, and I really want to say a hard word.
Kobayashi Kyaw: Mr. Otake, as a professional chess player, upholds the belief of aesthetics, which makes countless chess fans enthusiastic. Many chess players also like Ohtake's chess, and Ohtake not only left first-class results, but also made great contributions to the development of Go. The Japanese Chess Academy expresses its gratitude for this and hopes to continue to pay attention to the trends in the Go community in the future.
Yuta Iyama: A long career, first of all, is a hard time. Not only has it won countless championships, but go, known as the "great bamboo aesthetics", is not only a chess fan, but also our professional chess players are also greatly inspired. Whenever I meet with Mr. Otake, I communicate frequently, which is a huge asset for me. I hope that Mr. Otake will also contribute to the Go community in the future.