On July 1, 2026, in Game 5 of the 81st Honinbo Title Match (best of five), Fukuoka Kotaro (福岡航太朗; then 7 dan) won a hard-fought full-set battle against Honinbo Ichiriki Ryo (一力遼) and took the Honinbo title with an overall record of three wins and two losses. Fukuoka (福岡) won the Honinbo title at the age of 20 years and 6 months, breaking after 55 years the record for the youngest age at which a player has won the Honinbo title for the first time, which had been set at 22 years and 10 months in 1971 by the 24th Honinbo Shuho (Yoshio Ishida, 9 dan). To commemorate this remarkable achievement, the Nihon Ki-in has decided to issue a "Commemorative Certificate for Fukuoka Kotaro's Honinbo Title Win." This special certificate bears only the signature of Honinbo Fukuoka Kotaro (福岡航太朗), and the title is written simply as "Honinbo." Why not take advantage of this opportunity to apply and receive a special certificate? October 2026 Japan Go Association (Nihon Ki-in), Promotion Department, Correspondence Certification Office For details, click here *The photo shows a 5-dan certificate (click the image to enlarge). * Certificates for those awarded 8-dan and 7-dan will be hand-calligraphed by Honinbo Fukuoka (Fukuoka Kotaro, 福岡航太朗). Certificates for 6-dan and below will be printed (not for sale). (Click the image to enlarge) Eligibility Open to everyone (however, only members of the Nihon Ki-in may obtain a dan diploma. You may also join at the same time as you apply.) Ranks Awarded ◆ High-Dan Course: 8-dan to 5-dan ◆ Dan Division: 4-dan to 1-dan ◆ Kyu Division: 1-dan to 6-kyu Application deadline Postmarked no later than Monday, November 30, 2026 How to apply • By postcard: Choose one of the High Dan, Dan, or Kyu courses, and apply using a commercially available reply postcard, clearly stating your answers, address, telephone number, name, date of birth, and so on. • Web: Please apply using the application form. • Note: For applications submitted through the online application form, the score will be sent to the email address registered at the time of application on Friday, December 18. Those who reach the passing score will be mailed the diploma application documents separately. • Note: Each person may submit only one entry, regardless of course. If multiple answers are submitted, the one with the earliest submission date will be considered as the entry. Address 7-2 Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0076 Nihon Ki-in Promotion Department, Fall 2026 "Commemorating Kotaro Fukuoka's Honinbo Title" Special Paper-Based Certification, Website Staff Return Date Graded results will be returned in sequence beginning in late December 2026. Answer Announcement ◆ Go World, January 2027 issue (on sale December 18) ◆ Nihon Ki-in Website, Friday, December 18, 2027 Benefits • A. Fukuoka Kotaro Honinbo Certificate Special Certificate Bearing Only the Signature of Honinbo Kotaro Fukuoka (福岡航太朗) • B. Free Fee for Direct Promotion Normally 5,500 yen; for 6-dan certification, 11,000 yen — now free • C. Honinbo Kotaro Fukuoka Folding Fan For 8-dan and 7-dan, Honinbo Kotaro Fukuoka (福岡航太朗) will write the calligraphy himself. For 6-dan and below, the certificates will be printed (not for sale). • D. Presentation of Framed Certificates Holders of 8-dan and 7-dan certificates will receive theirs framed and delivered. The certificate frame is a premium cherry-wood finish (regular price: ¥33,000). • *1 Applications for a 7-dan certificate are limited to holders of a 5-dan or higher certificate, and applications for an 8-dan certificate are limited to holders of a 6-dan or higher certificate. Simultaneous applications for 5-dan and 7-dan, and for 6-dan and 8-dan, are permitted. (Normally, holding the preceding rank is required.) • *2 The "skip-promotion fee" (飛付昇段料, tobitsuki shōdan-ryō) is the fee required to obtain a certificate when the applicant does not hold the rank immediately below the one being applied for. • *3 Kyu-level certificates are pre-printed except for the name, date, and rank. Inquiries Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association) Promotion Department, Paper Certification Office (weekdays 10:00–17:00) Tel: 03-3288-8723 E-mail: kaiinka@nihonkiin.or.jp
