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PRESENTED BY
CENTURY HERO FILM INVESTMENT CO-, LTD-
YEOMAN BULKY CORP-
Executive Producers
*** Jun Owen Chen wouter Barendrecht Michael J- werner
Odawara, 2004 Master wu's home
There are still monkeys nearby-
- Many? Not too many? - Not many
Monkeys have factions-
Even monkeys form factions-
what are you talking about?
They come here-
Sometimes they appear-
They eat our persimmons-
wu Qingyuan was born in 1914-
He began learning Go at 7 from his father-
At 11, the records of his matches were sent to Japan
thus began his destiny as a Go player-
Mr- Segoe saw my records
and said I was Shusaku reincarnated-
Shusaku was the "Saint of Go"
in mid-19th Century Japan-
in terms of Go or Player-
3-3-Star-Center Strategy-
what extraordinarily original moves-
It would upset the Honinbo-
The newspapers these days
trumpet the phrase "Japan-China showdown-"
But it doesn't apply here-
Master
All I want is the growth of Go in Japan-
You'll enjoy tomorrow's paper-
Excuse me
Master,
after the 21st match, Shuusai has declared an adjournment-
well then, it's time for me to take my leave-
I must rush to send off my article-
In 1933,
wu Qingyuan won the right to play against
Honinbo Shuusai, the highest ranking player-
At that time,
I was fascinated by the Shin Fuseki technique-
So, from the start,
I played the 3-3-Star-Center strategy-
Segoe-san,
Yomiuri Newspaper's coverage is psychologically taxing wu-san-
You must caution him against it-
Yes-
Mom, I'm back-
Brother! Brother!
Look-
"Japan-China showdown-"
Qingyuan-
If our respective countries go to war,
it may become difficult for you to remain in Japan-
But if you return to China,
given these troubled times,
I doubt you'll be able to play Go-
Go knows no nations-
would you consider becoming a Japanese citizen?
If you purify your heart into a polished mirror,
and shine consecrated light on all things,
...eventually you shall attain
Budda-hood, ultimate enlightenment-
Recently,
I feel I am being guided by something
that makes me insist on this-
when your tournament is over,
I will personally guide you to the ultimate enlightenment,
so that your physical body and your soul
may enter the blessed realm-
Thank you, master-
Qingyuan-
God... -
has blessed you,
with the gift of Go-
You must pursue this gift-
Yes-
The white piece
rushes over,
and the black spreads here-
Did Shuusai only play one stone today?
Mr- Cat!
Then white moves here next, or... -
This is the largest white area, right?
You teach them-
For Shuusai,
Go matches are his life-
He's desperate to defend
his unbroken string of victories-
All the more so against you,
a Chinese opponent-
I don't know how long their match will last-
They have to finish sometime-
what's this?
You've got to play quietly-
Number 26, please come to the special window-
we'll process your application- Please sign-
Are you ready?
In 1935, Saionji Kintake passed away-
During that period,
my only refuge from exhaustion... -
was Saionji's house-
But he was gone forever-
Student Dormitory
They'll hurl insults at you if you wear those-
Can I see Mr- Li Yutang as soon as possible?
Eat something first-
why are you in such a rush to see Mr- Li?
What's the matter?
Did you catch a cold?
Brother,
I want to join the Hongwan League-
Mr- Segoe sent me a telegram-
He's concerned about you
and hopes you'll return to Japan soon-
Is Mr- Li Yutang in?
He's upstairs-
In God, you'll find the roots of your soul-
Mutual friendship and cooperation,
avoid involvement in parties and factions, stay clear of politics,
stamp out conflicts and bring about world peace -
these are the objectives of the Hongwan League-
My fever is gone-
I can even go for a walk-
My husband insisted
I deliver this script to you-
I am very grateful-
How is Master Roppeita?
Everyone is so unsettled
by these tumultuous times,
that he and I rarely go out-
It's so very calm here-
But... -
I hear the winters here are bitterly cold-
we're considering
moving you to another sanitarium-
No, thanks-
I like the dry air here-
It's like the air in Beijing-
It's gotten cold-
Yes, it has-
It's getting cold
earlier this year than last-
I hear the mountains have
already had their first snows-
war has finally broken out-
I wonder how wu is doing these days-
Like always,
he reads all day long-
He's been
reading the Chinese classics,
trying to calm his spirits-
It's very painful to watch-
I rented
a house nearby-
when he's released from the sanitarium,
I'll move him in-
It'll be easier to look after him that way-
If there's anything I can do,
please let me know-
In 1936, wu had a TB relapse,
and went to Mt- Fuji to rest-
As time flew by,
I felt the world was going through turbulent changes-
Only the world of Go was as tranquil as the Taikoko Lake-
I couldn't abandon Go, my calling-
I wanted to live with it in this world-
"Standing on the balcony at night, staring at the moon,
"I can see the crimson parapets
"of Yatsugatake's western slopes,
"mute in the chilly moonlight, their contours unchanged since antiquity-
"Returning to my room,
"perusing the classical texts of Chinese literature,
"images of ancient China
"are resurrected before my eyes-"
You've memorized it entirely-
You write beautifully-
I never imagined you could write so well-
You're the writer-
I am embarrassed-
wu san-
wind blows... -
It's time-
In 1939, after Shuusai retired,
wu Qingyuan and Kitani Minoru competed
in the Ten-Game Tournament
for the top Go ranking in Japan-
Mr- Kitani devoted himself to Go-
we had a great affinity-
I always regarded him as my older brother-
Excuse me-
It's a little too bright, may I ask you to close the doors?
May we?
Please do-
I already put the money under the wastebasket-
I think that's best-
what if something happens to my family?
Dear, what if
Qingyuan-san beats Kitani-san
in this Ten-Game Tournament?
In this climate between Japan and China,
you should cancel the competition-
Hold your tongue-
wu-san-
I brought you here to Japan,
so that you could dedicate your life to Go-
This incident
cannot simply be blamed on jingoistic papers-
I deeply regret the current situation-
Under such conditions, a professional player
must be prepared to brave even death on the Go board-
Kitani-san,
please stay, rest-
I want to watch while my opponent ponders-
Kitani-san!
The first match lasted 3 days-
I won that match by 2 points-
It was the first of nearly 100 games,
I would play in Ten-Game Tournaments-
It was a... -
soul-stirring struggle-
Master Minemura!
Hello-
My class just finished-
Let me introduce you-
This is Nakahara Kazuko,
Master Minemura's relative, and a student-
This is wu Qingyuan-
I saw your photograph in a magazine-
You're just like your picture-
Kazuko-san is also praying here-
That's good-
This is the book
that Kitani Minoru-san and I wrote-
Thank you so much-
Do you really have to go back?
Do you like her?
May the guests all rise-
Please raise your cups to celebrate
this blessed day-
Please-
My relatives sent us some low-grade rice-
You should take some-
Shoriki Matsutaro phoned
to say he couldn't come-
Don't lose this address-
You can buy food there-
Thank you-
The Yomiuri newspaper canceled the match with Karigane-san-
No doubt out of concern for his reputation and health-
84cm
81cm
69 kilos
Iwasaki!
1 meter 70 cm
No- 12, Takaoka Yuji!
61 kilos
Are you wu Qingyuan?
Yes-
You're really wu Qingyuan, the Go player?
Yes, I am-
You have lingering tuberculosis-
You're exempt from the draft-
It's time-
wu san,
tomorrow I report to the draft board for a physical-
I already went-
I did not pass-
If I am drafted,
this will probably be my final game-
Please come home safely-
when you do, let's play again-
Thank you-
Hello-
Hello-
wu-san is here-
Oh, wu-san-
All right, that's all for today-
You're lucky you get to go home early today-
Thank teacher-
Kimono for your children-
Thank you-
How about some tea in the other room?
We'll have some later-
Please, this way-
when do you deploy?
As soon as I'm notified-
what about the children?
They will go home until I return-
Aren't you going to China?
Don't know yet-
wu san-
It's best that you come with me-
The entire Go academy has evacuated-
Tokyo is too dangerous-
I cannot leave Tokyo-
I must... -
protect the sect-
The Honinbo match... -
Somehow, we'll manage to relocate it
to Hiroshima and have it there-
I want to focus
on the pursuit of my faith-
The Honinbo competition
is the most important in the world of Go-
It's fine to focus on your faith,
but I won't let you abandon Go-
I... -
plan to quit Go-
Ridiculous-
How dare you say that!
Wu san,
seriously reconsider-
I'll be in touch-
Take care of yourself-
Please be well, too-
Hurry!
Further back-
I'm sure you understand
why I want to convene the Honinbo Competition
even under these conditions-
A professional player cannot waste matches-
Have you reached wu-san?
They've been displaced
and are difficult to find-
without him, there is no competition-
Somehow, we've got to find him-
wu san refused to participate-
Calm down!
Calm down!
Pour water!
Run into the wind!
We are in
the age of decadence-
Japan now faces events
which will overturn heaven and earth-
The sun goddess has entrusted me
to save you from this degenerate hour-
I have been granted the name Jiko-
Respect Jiko, Jikou appears:
Respect Jiko, Jikou appears:
Respect Jiko, Jikou appears:
Respect Jiko, Jikou appears:
Resume the match-
In 1945, the U-S- dropped the atomic bombs on Japan-
The final competition
of the Honinbo School was held in Hiroshima,
Mr- Segoe's hometown- His son died in the bomb-
Japan surrendered-
wait! Stop!
Police!
The Yomiuri Newspaper proposed
to revive the Ten-Game Tournament-
I've agreed-
But I have
dedicated myself to my faith-
I have not played Go in 2 years-
This is
an excellent opportunity to spread our beliefs-
I want you to participate,
on behalf of the sect-
Please begin-
Open the door! We are police!
Open the door! We are police!
Come over
The door is open
Go!
What do you want?
Give the way
Don't come up!
Why are you here?
You've broken the Grain Control Regulation
That's our own rice
right
It's ours!
We arrested the leader!
Let him go!
Let him go!
Let him go!
What are you doing?
Don't touch him! Let go of him!
Let go!
I want to use Kinmoku's country house on Lake Yamanaka
as the sect's base-
Kinmoku should return to the sect-
Tell her I'm the God of the universe
You should bring her back-
It's Mr wu
Come in please
Come in, come in-
Do you feel a little better?
Much better
Thank you-
Jikou-san
is blessed with great spiritual powers-
But recently... -
she's been possessed by evil spirit,
by the evil spirit called "delusions of grandeur-"
Please think it over
Mr wu
I will not see her anymore
I could not trust her
Mr wu
Excuse me for being blunt
She is making use of you-
what you are seeking
and probe
having nothing in common-
It's time for you to rest-
I'm afraid you'll catch a cold-
Finally, your fever's gone-
You've been unconscious for days-
and had wild talks-
It's really made me worried-
Mr wu
I will reconsider
meeting with Jikou-san-
Things are going bad at Hachinohe-
There's a liquor manufacturer
who joined Jiu Kyou
donate a house to the sect-
His enraged family
hired local men
to attack the sect's base-
It degenerated into a riot-
I have go back-
Stop!
Please, stop!
My legs gave out-
I'm all right-
I thought I'd never see you again-
I am really worried about you-
Iwamoto-san,
unless wu san arrives in the next 5 minutes,
the match must be forfeited-
Please wait a little longer-
Traveling is difficult these days-
Thank you for everything-
I'm leaving
Mr wu, here's a letter for you-
Thank you-
watch your steps
I've escaped from the Jiu Keyou
I could no longer trust Jikou
The essence of our faith is utterly incompatible
with her methods of proselytizing-
So I left her
I am late to see this,
and I've caused you lots of suffering
I am deeply sorry-
I am going to visit my parents in Hokkaido,
After that I will wait you in Tokyo
It's you-
In 1948, wu Qingyuan left the Jiu Kyou-
...- Although I could not get the truth I'm seeking for from Jiu Kyou
but I always held onto my faith, which kept me invincible in the Go world
even in the most tumultuous times-
Let's start!
Let's play grimace
The one who laughs first will lose
ha ha
Uncle wu laughed first!
Uncle wu lost-
you lost
Your hands are so cold-
Is it cold outside?
Still snowing?
Your baby-
what are you doing?
Mr wu is here-
Please Come in-
Mr wu
Congratulations on your baby boy-
Thank you-
A gift from all of us-
we all wish your baby a healthy growth
Thank you all-
Let's start the game
Mr wu
I look forward to this match-
In 1955, the final Ten-Game Challenge Championship
were held between wu Qingyuan and Takagawa Kaku-
It's time to start
...- I had dominated the Go world ever since my first tournament,
and defeated all my challengers-
As a result, the Championship
which had lasted for 17 years came to an end-
Please stop here-
Mr wu
Master-
Come in-
Master, please sit down-
How is he?
He's been like this the past several days-
Mr wu
Mr wu
I heard Hayashi's been performing wonderfully-
And Otake's doing well, too-
He used to be such a crybaby-
He doesn't have to cry anymore-
So many young players now-
That's good-
Kazuko!
Kazuko!
What's wrong?
Go in my place-
Tomorrow,
take my place in the match-
I will-
I'll go prepare-
Hurry!
In 1961, wu Qingyuan was injured in a motorcycle accident-
It seemed the God of competition abandoned me-
I suddenly felt estranged
from the stones and Go board-
You're looking well-
Yes, I'm feeling well-
I'm considering playing in a match-
Mr wu
won't you join me?
Isn't it boring, living without Go?
Start with the light televised matches
and ease back into the game-
what do you think?
I've considered it... -
But at this age... -
So you've been considering it after all-
In 1972, Segoe Kensaku committed suicide-
...- He wrote in his will that it was
because he couldn't play anymore-
In 1975, Kitani Minoru also died-
In that period, one by one, those who had bestowed great kindness on me
all passed away, like stars falling from the sky-
In 1984, the Japanese Go community organized a grand ceremony
at the Okura Hotel, to mark wu Qingyuan's retirement-
Competition and faith are my life-long vocations-
Like water and fire, I depend on both-
when I couldn't outrank the others,
it was time for me to leave-
There are two things in my life, truth and Go-
This film is dedicated to Master wu Qingyuan and his wife-