Kishimoto, Kaoru

岸本薫

He is the president of the Kaio Middle School Go club and a former insei who failed to become a professional. After playing a game against Akira, he was forced to resign early, admitting that he was outclassed and that it was right not to pursue a professional career. Later, he plays a match against Hikaru to gauge his strength, defeating him with ease. His dismissive attitude toward Hikaru's plan to rise to Akira's level while remaining in the school club spurs Hikaru to register as an insei. His preference for black coffee allows Hikaru to realize that he is the failed insei being discussed by other insei shortly after Hikaru joins the program.