Kitani Minoru is my teacher. I lived at his in home for six years before the World War. In my memory, my teacher was generally silent, but warm and so pure. Both his real children and his students lived together in his home, and his love towards his students was something very special. He always treated us like his sons.
Grand Master Kitani was one of those big people who can be credited with the flowering of Japanese Baduk. When young, Kitani was the most outstanding man among freshmen players. Later, he made history by developing, with Wu Qingyuan 9-dan, the New Posuk, or "New Opening." and by playing Wu Qingyuan twice in named 10-dan matches. Nevertheless, Baduk Master Kitani's most significant contribution to 20th century Baduk history lies in his numerous outstanding students.

After his second match with Wu Qingyuan 9-dan, which he lost, Grand Master Kitani put all his effort into educating younger players. He went from place to place to find talented kids and showed no nationalism in his selection of students. I am his second oldest student.
Grand Master Kitani's school can be divided into earlier and later periods, with the Second World War as the dividing point. Before the war, the school was located at Hiratsuka, and I was taught there.
During the war, the school was lost and Baduk Master Kitani moved the school to Tokyo. The people who lead Japanese Baduk, for example Ishida Yoshio, Otake Hideo, Kato Masao, Takemiya Masaki, Kobayashi Koichi, and Cho Chi-hoon are all from the postwar school.
The Kitani school's influence was by no means restricted to Japanese Baduk. For the most part, it was I who brought modern Baduk into Korea. I came from the Kitani school, so the modern Baduk of Korea has benefited greatly from the influence of the Kitani school. Also my junior players, for example, Kim In, Yoon Kihyun, and Ha Chan-seok are from the Kitani school and have contributed greatly to the Korean Baduk community.
The Kitani school had trained 49 pro players by the time it had to be closed in 1975 due to Baduk Master Kitani's failing health. Last year, our Chungam (or baduk school) alumni gathered together and celebrated exceeding a combined ranking of 200-dan.
I cannot hide my happy emotions at the hopeful prospect of obtaining an international Baduk fellowship. I am delighted that these days, China, like Korea and Japan, is also trying to train and support younger generations of Baduk players at the national level.