After a barren period, Kobayashi Koichi 9-dan once again got to feel like a frequent flyer as he laid his hands on a trophy, winning the the JAL-sponsored 23rd Kakusei on 23 February 2001. But it was by the merest half point, against Yoda Norimoto 9-dan.
Kobayashi's path to the final included victory over last year's winner, O Rissei 9-dan.
Full results are given below. The event started last June.
The sponsors are Japan Airlines (JAL).The winner's prize money is 5.1 million yen, with just under 2 million yen for the losing finalist. This has hardly changed over the years.
The games are satellite telecast on Sky PerfecTV. The first seven terms were a round-robin league comprising the title holder and the top five players emerging from a preliminary tournament. Ties were decided by a one-game playoff. In term 8 this changed to the current system.
Now a preliminary for all 5-dans and above is held, to give 5 players (or more if needed) who join the holders of the top seven titles plus the Kakusei holder in a 12-man final (held in March/April). Eight play off in Round 1 then the last eight play a straight knockout.
Time limits are 10 minutes each, with 30 seconds per move overtime. Komi has always been 5.5 points.
The title is a made-up word meaning crane sage. The crane is an allusion to the Japan Airlines logo, and the sage is a go title. There is also a separate Women's Kakusei tournament.
