The New York Go Center was formed in 1995. It is incorporated as Nihon Ki-in America, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation.

A fine building located at 323 E 52nd Street, was purchased by the Nihon Ki-in in 1995 with a generous bequest for this purpose by Mr. Iwamoto - one of the great Go players of all time. A new entity was incorporated as Nihon Ki-in America and the building was named New York Go Center, to absorb and replace the predecessor entity - the New York Go Club - and to provide a congenial meeting place for players who were either unaffiliated or who belonged to other Go clubs in New York. It was Mr. Iwamoto's vision that this physical facility would flourish into an important international and inter-cultural Go Center and would bring together the Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and American Go communities. The New York Go community was immensely grateful for this regal gift, as it appeared to solve the principal problem that had beset the New York Go Club in the past - lack of a suitable meeting place and the burden of paying unaffordable rents at a series of mostly inadequate locations. It must be stressed that Mr. Iwamoto's contribution to the founding of the New York Go Center was not limited to the donation of the building. Over the years, he had made repeated visits to the New York Go Community in which he instructed the New York community in the depth and profundity of the game.

Our Founder

Iwamoto Kaoru 岩本薫 9-dan was born on February 5, 1902 in Shimane prefecture. His international experience began early: he spent his early years in Pusan, Korea. He returned to Japan in 1913 and became pro in 1917. In 1929, he retired from professional go and moved to Brazil, to try his luck as a coffee farmer. His luck was not good, and he returned to Japan and resumed his career in 1932. He played a critical role in bringing Go Seigen to Japan.