Godokoro

Godokoro was a formal office in premodern Japan, held by the person recognized as the leading authority in Go. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the holder was appointed by the government and exercised authority over official Go affairs, including relations among the major Go houses.

The office institutionalized government recognition and administration of the highest level of Go expertise. Godokoro therefore denotes an office or title—not merely a rank, a Go house, or the winner of a modern tournament. It was a historical institution associated primarily with the Edo period and should not be treated as a current Japanese Go organization.