Judan

Judan is a professional Go title in Japan, established in 1962 as the fourth oldest of the country’s seven major titles. The name Judan means “tenth dan,” symbolizing the high rank traditionally associated with its winner. Organized by the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, the Judan tournament is open to professionals from both the Nihon Ki-in and Kansai Ki-in.

Structure and Significance

The Judan tournament follows a traditional elimination format, culminating in a best-of-five final match to determine the champion. Securing the Judan title is a significant achievement, reflecting a player’s high standing in the Go community.

The title also offers opportunities for rank promotion:

• Reaching the title match grants a promotion to 7-dan.
• Winning the title promotes the player to 8-dan.
• Winning the title twice results in an automatic promotion to 9-dan, the highest professional rank.

Notable Champions and Legacy

Many legendary players have held the Judan title, including Sakata Eio, Cho Chikun, Otake Hideo, and Iyama Yuta. Long-reigning champions like Kobayashi Koichi and Takemiya Masaki have left a lasting impact on modern Go strategy.

Despite the rise of international tournaments, the Judan title remains a prestigious accolade in professional Go, continuing to attract Japan’s top players and maintaining its place among Japan’s most respected titles.

If you want to know more about Japan’s Go titles, read our article: Japan’s Most Prestigious Go Titles.