Okura Kishichiro

Baron Ōkura Kishichiro (大倉喜七郎 1882-1963) was a primary patron in the establishment of the Nihon Ki-in or Japanese Go Association in 1924, organizing and supporting professional go players in Japan following the Meiji Restoration and subsequent ceasing of government support for the four houses. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge from 1903 to 1906 but he did not graduate.

In his honor, in 1964, the Nihon Kiin created the Okura prize for promoting go. Awarded approximately annually, the prestigious prize has been awarded to Westerners, notably Felix Dueball and Edward Lasker, as well as Asians.

He was also inducted to the Nihon Kiin Hall of Fame in 2006.

Kishichiro was a son of Ōkura Kihachiro (1837-1928) who as an entrepreneur built up the Ōkura-gumi and founded the giant Okura zaibatsu (family trust) and the Ōkura Shogyo Gakko which later became Tokyo Keizai University Tokyo University of Economics? in 1949. He was the President of the Imperial Hotel, and the Ōkura luxury hotel chain is still an important one in Japan today.

Wikipedia page on Kishichiro

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